The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has awarded funding to four new engineering biology projects, led by researchers at Imperial College London, to develop new technologies in microbial food, gene therapy, plastic breakdown, and glycan biomanufacture for health. These projects are part of UKRI’s Engineering Biology Missions, which aim to transform our health and environment.
The projects include:
* Developing microbial foods that are more sustainable, healthier, and tastier, using fermentation-based food products and precision fermentation.
* Creating engineered genetic control systems for gene therapies, which can treat or cure diseases by replacing, inactivating, or introducing new or modified genes.
* Breaking down plastics, using enzymes and microbes to remove pollutants from the environment and redirect monomers to higher value goods.
* Transforming glycan biomanufacture for health, using low-cost methods to link glycans to proteins for more effective vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics.
These projects have the potential to revolutionize various industries, from food production to healthcare, and contribute to sustainable growth and a reduced carbon footprint.