Our vision

Launched In March 2024, The Environmental Biotechnology Innovation Centre (EBIC) is a new centre hosted, managed and led at/by Cranfield University which involve research collaborations between 10 academic institutions from across the UK and 30 associated partners.

Overall, EBIC aims to advance the field of environmental biotechnology through the integration of synthetic biology techniques and interdisciplinary approaches, with the overarching aim of driving innovation and developing practical applications to address environmental challenges such as pollution reduction, waste management and resource recovery.

Funded by the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), EBIC is being developed as a unique interdisciplinary research hub, renowned nationally and internationally for its commitment to addressing pressing environmental challenges.

By integrating existing cutting-edge techniques from SynBio, systems biology, biotechnology, and engineering science and bioremediation, EBIC pushes the boundaries of innovation that can transform the field of environmental biotechnology. EBIC’s primary focus is to concentrate on tangible, theme-oriented outcomes to drive impactful research and innovation. Through this dedicated approach, we aim to bridge the gap between research and practical applications, ensuring that our findings translate into meaningful actions that make a substantial and measurable difference in the world.

The Centre benefits stakeholders from numerous horizons, ranging from scientist, early career researcher engineers, industry from the water and waste management sector as well as the environmental biotechnology sectors to environmental organisation, policy and regulatory bodies, and society.

 

 

    University of Essex- Boyd McKew
    East Anglia: David Lea-Smith
    Heriot-Watt university – Tony Gutierrez
    Cranfield University – Prof Frederic Coulon and Tao Lyu
    University of Glasgow: Cindy Smith
    Newcastle University: Thomas Curtis, Natalio Koregaon

    Challenges:
    Substrate complexity, system robustness, genetic manipulation, consortia design, and scale-up. Industrial effluents and landfills contain diverse and complex pollutants, necessitating a deep understanding of microbial metabolic capabilities. Ensuring system robustness and stability amidst varying environmental conditions is crucial. Genetic manipulation and strain design techniques must be refined to optimise pollutant degradation. Constructing microbial consortia with synergistic interactions poses challenges in maintaining stability and productivity, especially during scale up. All our engineered strains will be version controlled and barcoded.

    Potential solutions:

    Short-term objective (1-2 years):

    Identifying, isolating, and optimising microorganisms and their enzymes and products (biosurfactants) to target specific pollutants (e.g., hydrocarbons, plastics and PFAS) degradation. This process will be through laboratory screening and detailed characterisation. Biosurfactants for instance, could replace synthetic surfactants for environmental oil spill response and are one of the most in-demand biotechnological compounds as the surfactant market is expected to reach $60 Billion p.a. by 2030. Selected species identified will be tested for their ability to be modified using delivery strategies detailed in Technical Pillar 1, and then engineered for enhanced biodegradation using the modular cloning systems described, via genetic engineering approaches already successfully applied in Alloalcanivorax and Alcanivorax isolates and Pseudomonas putida.

    Medium-term objective (3-5 years):

    Genetically modifying and enhancing the biodegradation capabilities of strains known for hydrocarbon degradation, including Alcanivorax, Thalassolituus, Oleispira, Oleiphilus, Marinobacter and Cycloclasticus, as well as constructing microbial chassis for the heterologous overexpression of a range of biosurfactants (e.g., rhamnolipids, glucolipids, sophorolipids) that are known to enhance biodegradation (we have a putida model chassis, and Pichia if required). Additionally, strains known for PFAS degradation belonging to Pseudomonas, Acidimicrobium and Rhodococcus, will be targeted for genetic modification using enzymes from Dechloromonas and Rhodopseudomonas spp., to enable biodegradation to kick-start within 24 hours.

    Long- term objective (5-10 years):

    Demonstrating the effectiveness of engineered microorganisms and engineered consortia for remediating industrial effluents, seawater and landfills through full scale bioengineered treatment systems and achieving a measurable reduction in pollutant concentrations. Biosurfactant testing as environmental oil dispersants can be facilitated via our Collaborative Partner, Oil Spill Response Ltd. The results will be compared with conventional bioremediation approaches and relevant regulations. Where possible, we will generate markerless mutants. If needed, the integration with other treatment technology will be conducted to ensure safe discharge.

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    Trusted partners

    Led by Cranfield University, EBIC brings together scientists from ten leading UK institutions in a mission to advance the properties and functions of micro-organisms, creating more effective ways to monitor the environment and remove pollutants.

    EBIC is funded by the UK Research and Innovation’s Technology Missions Fund and support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/Y008332/1)