What is synthetic biology?

RK&PF: Synthetic biology is an exciting and rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field that aims to provide a systematic framework for the engineering and construction of biological parts, devices and systems at the genetic level. This definition was originally defined in the Royal Academy of Engineering Report on Synthetic Biology, and it forms the basis of the UK Roadmap for Synthetic Biology and is used by practitioners around the world to direct research and industrial translation.

How does synthetic biology relate to engineering and what applications does it offer?

PF: Synthetic biology is the application of engineering principles of modularisation, characterisation, standardisation and systematic design tools involving computational modelling, modular parts and standardised measurements. This approach and framework are completely novel when applied to the reprogramming of cellular systems at the genetic level for desired functional outputs; they lend themselves to the transformation of existing bio-manufacturing techniques and have the potential to be applied across many different application areas. This approach is viewed by many economists as the basis of economic growth in the application of biotechnology to the bioeconomy.

Why is time ripe to take advantage of the benefits that synthetic biology offers?

PF: A key starting point for the field was the initial sequencing of the human genome and technological developments, including bioinformatics tools, that now allow the rapid and accurate sequencing of many genomes as well as digital sharing of this information on the internet. We are now able to ‘read’ DNA routinely and accurately.

In parallel there have been technological developments in the ability to chemically synthesise DNA. Because of the significant economic potential of synthetic biology there is now an industrial concentration on reading and writing DNA faster and more cheaply and accurately. All of this is now turning synthetic biology into a field of engineering and information science applied to biological systems and will ultimately lead to the industrialisation of biology.

What is the economic potential for synthetic biology?

RK: The case for the economic potential of synthetic biology was made at the World Economic Forum Davos 2012 where synthetic biology was identified as the second most important field with major economic potential. The field was

separately identified and designated by the UK Government as one of it ‘Eight Great Technologies’. While the second half of the 20th Century was the digital age, many commentators see the 21st Century as the age of the bioeconomy.

What is the basic strategy for engineering biology?

RK: As with other fields in engineering, the approach is to develop foundational technology that can be applied across a range of applications. For synthetic biology these technologies can be defined as DNA synthesis, DNA assembly, and part and device characterisation, which underpin systematic design including mathematical modelling and bioCAD tools. One major aim of this framework is the creation of standardised components that can be assembled into modules for use in different applications. After these modules are accurately characterised, the key issue is then one of interfacing modules. In synthetic biology this is challenging as living systems are evolving, adapting and reproducing where context dependency is a key biological attribute. While challenging, this approach is essential for reproducibility in bioindustrial processes including scaling.

As CEO, can you introduce Synthetic Biology Innovation & Commercialisation Industrial Translation Engine (SynbiCITE)?

SC: SynbiCITE performs an important role, supporting both academic and industrial sectors to create an effective industrial translation engine for synthetic biology – bridging the gap between university-based research and industry to create products and jobs. Although we have a large number of multinational companies as industrial partners, much of the current commercialisation in synthetic biology is being driven by innovative start-ups and SMEs, which make up the majority of our partners.

How will this Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) further the UK’s aim to take a leading role in the field of synthetic biology?

SC: The bioeconomy has been one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK economy for the past 50 years; it is now worth £100 billion and employs close to 1 million people. The UK is well positioned globally, with companies contributing close to 10 per cent of the global biopharmaceutical pipeline. This results from having world-leading research scientists that generate cutting-edge inventions. The recent emergence of synthetic biology provides a great opportunity for the UK to take advantage of ensuing scientific innovations to provide new product opportunities and more profitable ways of making them.

Professors Richard Kitney and Paul Freemont team up to define synthetic biology, share its applications and describe its economic potential, while Dr Stephen Chambers outlines his vision for the field in the UK, and discusses the barriers that must be overcome if researchers are to effectively commercialise their ideas

Shaping synthetic biology

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ESTIMATES THAT THE global synthetic biology market will reach £62 billion by 2020 have galvanised governments in the US and UK into action to ensure their counties do not miss out on commercialising the emerging industry. Indeed, the UK Government has identified synthetic biology as one of the ‘Eight Great Technologies’ in which the country has the potential to attain a world-leading position. In the UK – which has a well-established synthetic biology research base – Imperial College London was one of the first universities in the world to incorporate synthetic biology into its curriculum. It is well positioned to take full advantage of the economic gains resulting from the development and commercialisation of applications in a wide variety of sectors.

However, if such progress is to be made, then greater support for the translation of basic research into commercial products is needed. It was for this reason that, in 2012, the UK Government published the UK Roadmap for Synthetic Biology report, which outlined (among other measures) the need to establish an Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) to integrate academia and industry in the synthetic biology field and, in so doing, successfully facilitate the development of novel synthetic biology-based products. From this the Synthetic Biology Innovation & Commercialisation Industrial Translation Engine (SynbiCITE) was established.

A NATIONAL HUBBased at Imperial College London, SynbiCITE works to promote and accelerate the industrial adoption and use of synthetic biology by bridging the gap between university-based research and industry. “At SynbiCITE, we are dedicated to helping translate the potential of synthetic biology into novel commercial products and services,

The Synthetic Biology Innovation & Commercialisation Industrial Translation Engine is bringing together academia, industry and business to remove the roadblocks that often inhibit the effective translation of synthetic biology discoveries into commercial applications

Streamlining commercialisation

True innovation is the product of invention and commercialisation. If we are to have innovation in synthetic biology, we must commercialise the inventions coming from academic researchers. In the past, the UK has had a poor track record of commercialising academic research. The IKC, with funding for proof-of-concept projects and business support for start-ups and SMEs, will facilitate innovation by closing the translation gap between academia and industry.

Can you describe the Lean LaunchPad for Synthetic Biology programme?

SC: This programme provides evidence-based entrepreneurship to take ideas from the labs to the market place. As part of its innovation development programme, SynbiCITE offers all of its partners the unique opportunity to participate in the Lean LaunchPad. SynbiCITE sees the Lean LaunchPad as a key element in its innovation programme to accelerate the commercialisation of synthetic biology in the UK. The programme has helped numerous would-be entrepreneurs translate research ideas into successful products and services.

In 2014, SynbiCITE announced that it was going to open the Foundry. What is the Foundry’s mission and what benefits will it provide to the UK’s synthetic biology community?

SC: Our partner companies and researchers have benefited from access to our fully equipped incubator laboratory and office space, which assists them in developing new synthetic biology-based products and services. Now, however, SynbiCITE also provides access to a state-of-the-art DNA synthesis and construction foundry. The Foundry is another key element in the innovation programmes SynbiCITE offers its partners. One of the barriers to entry for start-ups and small companies is the cost of the high-tech equipment used in synthetic biology. The Foundry provides that equipment, and thus gives resource-strapped entrepreneurs the opportunities to try out their ideas.

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that can benefit all of society,” outlines SynbiCITE CEO Dr Stephen Chambers, who has over 20 years of experience in the US biotechnology industry.

One of SynbiCITE’s primary objectives is to accelerate the commercialisation of world-leading synthetic biology science and emerging technologies into novel products, tools, processes and services. To this end, SynbiCITE acts as the nucleating centre at the heart of a UK-wide cluster of partners, 19 of which are drawn from academic institutions and 56 from industry. “Centres of innovation around the world have one common feature: a critical mass of academia, industry and business,” elaborates Chambers. “SynbiCITE is attempting to promote this through a combination of high-calibre science and research, and access to finance markets and industry.” He is confident that this strategy will produce outputs that address the grand challenges of the 21st Century, while also generating significant economic returns that strengthen the UK economy, create jobs and emphasise the value of investing in synthetic biology.

SUPPORT FOR START-UPS AND SMESWith innovation in synthetic biology largely driven by SMEs and start-ups, resources and funding are often limited. To overcome this, SynbiCITE provides access to its fully equipped new-build facility at Imperial College London, which includes cutting-edge laboratories, IKC incubator space, a business support area, an innovation forum and a start-up hub. Notably, April 2015 saw the official launch of the Foundry: a £4.3 million, state-of-the-art centre for DNA synthesis and construction, based at SynbiCITE’s site. The Foundry’s mission is to establish a common framework for building DNA using an automated robotic system. Given that the construction of interchangeable sections of DNA – an essential step within synthetic biology – is both time-consuming and costly, a means of scaling up this process will significantly accelerate the rate of synthetic biology development.

Furthermore, SynbiCITE partners can draw upon the expertise and resources of a wide circle of collaborators, both within Imperial College London and across the national network. “SynbiCITE is fortunate to be located at University, as it is home to the Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation – the longest established synthetic biology research centre in the UK,” Chambers explains. “Also, the importance of the entrepreneurial environment at Imperial, and its close proximity to the city for finance and deal-making, cannot be underestimated.”

Additionally, SynbiCITE offers considerable business and commercial support via funding. In addition to being invited to scientific and problems-solutions brokerage meetings, all partners are kept informed about all available grant opportunities. Support ranges from seed funding for proof-of-concept projects to follow-on funding to enable the development of prototypes and facilitate translation towards pilot production scale manufacturing.

BUILDING SKILLSETSA further aim of SynbiCITE is to ensure there is an innovative and well-qualified workforce available to meet the demands of the burgeoning synthetic biology industry by increasing the UK’s skills base in this field. SynbiCITE therefore offers a combination of training, education and outreach activities aimed at supporting the next generation of synthetic biology researchers and entrepreneurs. For example, it is acting as the national basecamp for the teams competing in the annual International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition, which brings together university students from across the world to build genetically engineered systems using standard biological parts (BioBricks) that will have a positive societal impact.

Furthermore, SynbiCITE provides industry training and professional development and business leadership courses aimed at preparing research scientists to better meet the challenges associated with commercialisation. It has also partnered with the Synthetic Biology Leadership Excellence Accelerator Program (LEAP), who offer a one-year non-residential fellowship for 20 emerging leaders in biotechnology each year.

Most notable, however, is the Lean Launchpad for Synthetic Biology programme – a pioneering entrepreneurship programme that has never before been applied in the UK’s synthetic biology sector. Developed in California by successful entrepreneur Steve Blank, the Lean LaunchPad embodies a customer discovery methodology whereby product development is guided through extensive interaction with target customers. In this way, business plans and products can be tailored to suit the needs of the markets and so have a greater chance of commercial success.

SynbiCITE works with 56 industry partners and 19 academic partners, largely from across the UK. Full details of these can be found on the website: http://synbicite.com/partners

SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY: IN SUMMARY

Synthetic biology is a multidisciplined area of research combining elements of engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science and molecular biology to provide a systematic approach for increasing the speed, efficiency and reproducibility with which biological systems can be engineered. It has the potential to provide a wide range of applications in key sectors, including:

• Energy

• Fine and specialty chemicals

• Agriculture and food

• Sensors and diagnostics

• Medicines and health

• Environmental

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OBJECTIVES• To accelerate the commercialisation of UK university

and industry based research in synthetic biology through creating early stage critical mass of partners and resources

• To be an effective vehicle to support innovative synthetic biology start-ups and SMEs

• To actively engage in open dialogue with the public and other stakeholders about synthetic biology

KEY COLLABORATORSSteve Blank, Stanford University, USA • Jerry Engel, University of California Berkeley, USA

PARTNERSBangor University • University of Birmingham • Bristol University • University of Cambridge • Cardiff University • University of Edinburgh • University of Exeter • University of Glasgow • Imperial College London • Newcastle University • University of Oxford • Queen’s University of Belfast • Royal College of Art • University of Sheffield • Swansea University • University College London • University of Warwick

FUNDINGEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) • Innovate UK

CONTACTDr Stephen ChambersCEO

Imperial College IncubatorLevel 1 Bessemer BuildingImperial College LondonLondon, SW7 2AZ, UK

T +44 20 759 45910E stephen.chambers@synbicite.com

http://synbicite.com

ww3.imperial.ac.uk/syntheticbiology

www.igem.org/Main_Page

@SynbiCITE

https://plus.google.com/+Synbicite/videos

DR STEPHEN CHAMBERS is CEO at SynbiCITE, the Innovation and Knowledge Centre for Synthetic Biology. He has extensive entrepreneurial experience with start-

ups as founding scientist at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and a co-founder of Abpro. He is also the lead teaching faculty for the Lean LaunchPad for Synthetic Biology programme at Imperial College London.

The Lean Launchpad for Synthetic Biology teaches researchers the evidence-based entrepreneurial approach that is necessary for starting a successful business. It is a highly demanding 12-week programme that comprises a three-day kick-off event, five follow-on class webinars, weekly team presentations, a weeklong customer and investor roadshow in San Francisco, and a two-day ‘lessons learned’ wrap-up event. “The course provides real-world, hands-on learning on what it’s actually like to start a company,” Chambers elaborates. “The goal is to create the entrepreneurial experience of an early stage start-up. Those participating are expected to interact directly with customers, partners and competitors, thereby encountering the chaos and uncertainty of how a start-up actually works.”

The first SynbiCITE cohort has already completed the programme. The results were extremely positive. “A number of teams on the programme incorporated the day after the course ended, and all the teams are pursuing their start-up plans,” Chambers enthuses. “In fact, one team is even in the process of manufacturing its first product.”

INTO THE FUTUREInspired by the success of the Lean LaunchPad and the interest it has generated, SynbiCITE plans to roll out the programme more widely across the UK. Chambers and his team are currently developing a two-day Lean LaunchPad Educators workshop, with the goal of teaching attendees the basic elements and best practices of the entrepreneurial process. Attendees will then be in a position to return to their respective institutions to launch their own Lean LaunchPad for Synthetic Biology programmes.

Another important part of SynbiCITE’s mission is to actively engage in open and positive dialogue with the public and other stakeholders. While previous work in this area has highlighted issues that are a source of potential concern to the general public, Chambers hopes that

SynbiCITE will allay these fears, both by working closely with the public to raise awareness about synthetic biology and by facilitating the production of novel applications of significant societal value. “We are committed to responsible innovation that encompasses ethical, societal and environmental considerations, and benefits all of society,” he confirms.

Ultimately, by providing access to the resources, funding and business support needed to boost innovation and commercialisation in the synthetic biology sector, it seems that SynbiCITE will play a powerful role in the years to come. It should only be a matter of time until the societal and economic impact of its actions begin to manifest.

The Synthetic Biology Innovation & Commercialisation Industrial Translation Engine works to promote and accelerate the industrial adoption and use of synthetic biology by bridging the gap between university-based research and industry

SynbiCITE actively invites any groups interested in partnering to get in touch

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