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CENTRE FOR SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY OF FINE AND SPECIALITY CHEMICALS

Reference	BB/M017702/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Nigel Scrutton
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Adisa Azapagic, Dr Andrew Balmer, Professor Perdita Barran, Professor Rainer Breitling, Professor Daniela Delneri, Dr Neil Dixon, Professor Jean-Loup Faulon, Professor Sabine Flitsch, Professor Carole Goble, Dr Abdullah Gok, Professor Royston Goodacre, Professor Neil Hall, Professor Sam Hay, Professor Christiane Hertz-Fowler, Professor Douglas Kell, Professor David Leys, Professor Jonathan Lloyd, Professor Nicholas Lockyer, Dr Peter Martin, Professor Pedro Mendes, Professor Jason Micklefield, Professor Andrew Munro, Professor Sally Randles, Dr Fatemeh Salehi, Professor Philip Shapira, Professor Eriko Takano, Professor Nicholas Turner, Dr James Winterburn
Institution	The University of Manchester
Department	Chemistry
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	10,198,943
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	14/11/2014
End date	31/03/2022
Duration	89 months

Abstract

Manchester has a unique vision for fine and speciality chemicals production using synthetic biology that has been built on a long term strategy. SYNBIOCHEM is central to this strategy and will develop a series of unique and highly integrated interdisciplinary technology platforms and a truly world-leading physical infrastructure for contemporary fine and speciality chemicals production. These technology platforms will drive multiple science programs to accelerate delivery of bespoke synthetic biology solutions for chemicals synthesis by adopting modular 'plug-and-play' platform approaches and a production pipeline that embraces the 'design-build-test-deploy' life-cycle for turning knowledge assets into innovative chemicals production solutions. Dedicated technology scientists will drive these technology platforms together with expert academic leads, and the technology platforms will be managed within the governance framework of the Centre. This will ensure rapid delivery and implementation of tools/technologies across multiple programs relevant to fine and speciality chemicals production. Our vision is that SYNBIOCHEM will become the UK and European Centre of Excellence for expertise and resources for the (re-)design, engineering and analysis of biological parts, devices and systems for sustainable fine and speciality chemicals production. SYNBIOCHEM will stimulate innovation in chemicals biosynthesis and promote leading capability development that will drive new interactions with industry and other stakeholders. SYNBIOCHEM will benefit from the highly multidisciplinary environment and collaborative culture of the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), its extensive network of industry partners and other stakeholders, MIB's track record in technology and methodology development, and its reputation for delivering competitive biotechnology-focused research to deliver a Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology focussed on the fine and speciality chemicals sector

Summary

The SYNBIOCHEM Centre will be a UK and European Centre of Excellence for Synthetic Biology in relation to fine and speciality chemicals and production. It will provide a national focus that spearheads UK academic and industrial research to accelerate the application of synthetic biology in fine and speciality chemicals production and the generation of new state-of-the-art tools to facilitate this translation. Synthetic biology is an emerging science that has the capacity to transform the UK and European industrial landscape in sustainable manufacturing processes across all industrial sectors. UK industries, from large multinationals to a large number of small and medium enterprises, are internationally well positioned to benefit from the multitude of novel technologies developed in synthetic biology laboratories. To accelerate the translation of synthetic biology towards the fine and speciality chemicals market, the Centre will unite technologies, tools and ideas that emerge from academic institutions throughout the country, harvest synergies across the industrial and scientific sectors, and address the novel ethical and regulatory challenges faced by a disruptive technology at the interface of life sciences, chemistry and engineering. The Centre will be located in the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, a unique cross-disciplinary research centre at the University of Manchester, bringing together more than 500 researchers with expertise in molecular biology, chemistry, engineering, material and computing science, and medicine at the forefront of international developments in synthetic biology. As part of the MIB, the Centre will build on a long and distinguished track record in spin-off formation and translating innovative research to industrial application, including a substantial portfolio of partnerships, e.g., with Syngenta, GSK, BASF and Shell. The Centre will operate an open and inclusive approach driven by the unique industrial needs of synthetic biology. This will allow it to harness the scientific expertise of the synthetic biology community at Manchester and throughout the country, by facilitating multiple research projects positioned primarily at the Technology-Readiness Levels 1 to 3, but also including industry-driven academic-led proof-of-concept and proof-of-utility projects with partners from industry and academia at the higher Technology-Readiness Levels. The Centre will develop major programs in the ethical and regulatory aspects faced by synthetic biology. By initiating early dialogue on responsible innovation, providing expertise, guidance and training in responsible governance of synthetic biology innovation, and promoting public engagement and training for the research community, the Centre will create the conditions for accelerated exploitation of the opportunities generated by the rapid advances in synthetic biology for the benefit of the UK economy. Colleagues at the Manchester Institute of Science Ethics and Innovation will be central to this effort to mitigate technology risks (real or perceived) associated with this new industrial revolution, while the University of Manchester Business School will develop the responsible innovation and market analysis strategies required to realize emerging opportunities as science progresses. This will be supported by analysis and stimulation of collaborative developments in this multi-disciplinary/multi-sector field. The Centre will respond continuously and flexibly to developing needs from industry partners new scientific trends across the academic landscape. Its strategic goal is to position UK industry at the forefront of the exploiting synthetic biology for chemicals and natural products biosynthesis by providing a 'one-stop access' to world class physical infrastructure/scientific knowledge that will propel fine and speciality chemicals production towards sustainable manufacturing processes.

Impact Summary

The SYNBIOCHEM Centre will generate societal and economic value through integration of wide-ranging and truly innovative research in synthetic biology in the fine and speciality chemicals areas. It will accelerate the translation of novel technology and science programs along the Technology-Readiness Levels towards commercialisation, and will be the national "One-Stop Access" for integration of synthetic biology approaches in fine and speciality chemicals production in terms of technology infrastructure and scientific expertise. The societal and economic value will be generated through the Centre's open collaborative culture, strong leadership and stakeholder engagement and excellence in the foundational and multidisciplinary science that is embedded in the Centre. The general public will benefit from the open dialogue established by the Centre on the opportunities and risks associated with SynBio applications, through education and outreach activities. The public will be able to contribute their views to the ongoing debate on ethical aspects and help shape pathways to responsible innovation in the field. The Centre will actively provide opportunities for dialogue, bring together expertise (both in synthetic biology science and ethics) to provide the information needed to form informed opinions, and ensure public perspectives are gathered and deliberated upon at an early stage. The insights gained will contribute to the design of effective and responsible research, innovation and governance strategies for emerging synthetic biology technologies. UK industries across a large range of sectors (e.g., fine chemicals, energy and fuels, pharmaceuticals and therapeutics, biomedical engineering and sensing, agriculture and food) will benefit from the expertise in the Centre and the accelerated access to advances in synthetic biology research. IP generation through activities in the Centre will lead to increased UK-based patent applications, licensing opportunities and potential spin out activity. The activities of the Centre will provide UK companies with a competitive advantage on the global market, based on more efficient and sustainable use of resources and the resulting increase in economic performance. Science in the synthetic biology field is advancing rapidly, and the Centre will progress synthetic biology technology-based applications on route to market by 2020 and beyond. The accelerated transfer of responsible synthetic biology technologies to industrial applications will support cleaner production processes (e.g. green chemistry), more sustainable manufacturing and energy sources (e.g. biofuels), and contribute to the creation of jobs and wealth within the UK chemicals and natural products industries and wider economy. The UK academic synthetic biology community will benefit from early engagement with responsible synthetic biology research and innovation considerations. Early engagement with industrial partners will enable research at the cutting edge of synthetic biology science that is relevant to market trends. The resulting increased international visibility of UK synthetic biology activities and the intersector networking opportunities will stimulate excellence in synthetic biology research throughout the UK. The multidisciplinary interaction across scientific domains (biology, chemistry, computational science, engineering and the social sciences) will further strengthen the UK research base in synthetic biology. Synthetic biology human capital development throughout the UK will benefit from the inter-institution, interdisciplinary and intersectoral capabilities of the Centre. Students (UG and PG) and academic researchers will benefit from training, mentoring and other Centre activities to advance synthetic biology research applications, industrial engagement, entrepreneurship, and deliberation of responsibility in synthetic biology research and innovation and its societal and economic implications.

Committee	Research Committee D (Molecules, cells and industrial biotechnology)
Research Topics	Industrial Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Synthetic Biology
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	Synthetic Biology Research Centres (SBRC) [2013-2014]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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