Themes and clusters

EBIC’s research is structured around four key theme areas and associated clusters, providing a framework for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in addressing environmental challenges through engineering biology approaches.

Theme 1: Next generation biosensors

Develop advanced biosensors enabled by synthetic biology for rapid and on-site detection as well as continuous monitoring of environmental conditions. These next-generation biosensors will facilitate efficient environmental monitoring and surveillance, enabling timely responses to potential risks.

Theme 2: Environmental bioremediation

Implement synthetic biology-enabled strategies for targeted environmental bioremediation, focusing on biosequestration and biodegradation of specific pollutants. By harnessing the power of synthetic biology, novel approaches will be developed to efficiently mitigate the impact of environmental contaminants, promoting cleaner and healthier ecosystems.

Theme 3: Wastewater and waste management

Apply Synthetic Biology to enhance water and waste management practices, promoting the principles of the circular economy. By integrating synthetic biology into existing systems, innovative solutions will be developed to improve resource recovery, reduce waste generation, and optimise water treatment processes, leading to more sustainable and efficient practices.

Theme 4: Responsible research and innovation

Promote responsible research and innovation throughout the entire research process. This objective emphasises the importance of ethical considerations, stakeholder engagement, and the integration of societal values. The research will be conducted with a strong emphasis on ensuring safety, transparency, and inclusiveness, fostering responsible innovation, and addressing any potential risks or concerns associated with Synthetic Biology applications.

By addressing the above theme-specific objectives EBIC’s research aims to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and solutions in environmental monitoring, bioremediation, water and waste management, and responsible research and innovation.

To maximise the Hub’s impact, EBIC will actively promote knowledge exchange and collaboration among the clusters. This will enable a seamless flow of insights, ideas, and expertise, enhancing the overall effectiveness of our research efforts. While engineering biology faces certain obstacles and bottlenecks that must be addressed, such as enhancing the stability and predictability of engineered systems, optimising resource utilisation, and ensuring safety and ethical considerations, potential solutions that illustrate how these can be tackled are provided.

Each theme encompasses research challenges that guide the research activities, with short-term objectives focusing on feasibility and proof of concept, medium-term objectives addressing optimisation and scalability, and long-term objectives aiming for real-world application and impact. It is important to note that the timeline and objectives shown are indicative and can be adjusted based on the specific nature of the research, available resources, and the complexity of the research activities.

Overall, our approach will build upon collaborative and inclusive methods of problem-solving, fostering strong partnerships between academics and stakeholders.