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The Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (CoESB) is a research centre that combines molecular biology, biotechnology, engineering, philosophy and ethics to design and build microbes that produce valuable products from agricultural and municipal waste. The Centre aims to use these microbes to seed a bio-based circular economy and leverage Australia's strengths in agriculture. [1]
The CoESB was awarded A$35 million in funding by the Australian Research Council, [2] A$1 million from the New South Wales Government [3] and A$13.1 million from partner organisations including Australian and international universities, public and private companies and government departments. As of December 2021 CoESB members have attracted A$23 million in additional funding from competitive grant schemes. [4] [5] [6]
The Centre held a virtual soft launch on 8 December 2020 [7] and is planned to run for seven years (2020-2027). [2]
One start-up company, Samsara, has been spun out the Centre. [6] [8] Samsara is an enviro-tech company using bacterial enzymes to recycle otherwise hard to recycle plastics. [9]
Organisation
Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen from Macquarie University is Centre Director and Professor Aleksandra Filipovska from The University of Western Australia is Centre Deputy Director. [10] The CoESB headquarters are located at Macquarie University.
Collaborators and partners of the CoESB are [2] [6]
- The University of Western Australia
- Queensland University of Technology
- The University of Queensland
- University of Newcastle (Australia)|The University of Newcastle
- The Australian National University
- The University of New South Wales
- Curtin University
- Western Sydney University
- The University of Sydney
- The University of Melbourne
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
- The University of York, UK
- University of Edinburgh, UK
- National University of Singapore
- The University of Manchester, UK
- Imperial College London
- Weizmann Institute of Science
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Amyris
- LanzaTech
- Gratuk Technologies
- Microbial Screening Technologies
- Microba
- Spanish National Research Council
- Manildra Group
- Australian Wine Research Institute
- Department of Primary Industries (New South Wales)
- Calysta Energy
- Bioplatforms Australia
- East West Capital
- Neochromosome Inc
- New York University
- Scion New Zealand Crown Research Institute
- Bondi Bio
- Twist Bioscience
- Cemvita Factory
- AllG Foods
The CoESB has engaged a Designer-in-Residence, Dr Jestin George, in 2021-2022 to run workshops for Centre members on the intersection of synthetic biology and design. [11] The Designer-in-Residence in conjunction with a Centre Associate Investigator, Dr Andrew Care, edit an Australian not-for-profit magazine SYNTHESIS. [12]
Research Programs
The aims and objectives of the CoESB are to "engineer synthetic microbes to create a new environmentally friendly and sustainable advanced biomanufacturing industry" and "build next generation microbial cell factories capable of biochemical transformations that are not possible using natural systems". [6]
The CoESB has three research themes: [13]
- Synthetic Microbial Communities
- Synthetic Organelles
- Neobiochemistry
The Centre also has three research capabilities that underlie and support the research themes to maximise research impact: [13]
- Systems Bioengineering
- Industrial Translation
- Social Dimensions
Investigators
As at December 2021, the CoESB has 17 Chief Investigators, 18 Partner Investigators, 22 Associate Investigators, 43 postdoctoral research fellows and 82 higher degree research students conducting research. [6]
| Role | Name | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Ian Paulsen | Macquarie University |
| Deputy Director | Aleksandra Filipovska | The University of Western Australia |
| Chief Operating Officer | J-L Heylen | Macquarie University |
| Chief Investigators | Brett Neilan | The University of Newcastle |
| Lars Nielsen | The University of Queensland | |
| Rachel Parker | The University of Queensland | |
| Michael Gillings | Macquarie University | |
| Lawrence Lee | The University of New South Wales | |
| Oliver Rackham | Curtin University | |
| Ian O'Hara | Queensland University of Technology | |
| Robert Speight | Queensland University of Technology | |
| Esteban Marcellin | The University of Queensland | |
| Kirill Alexandrov | Queensland University of Technology | |
| Nicki Packer | Macquarie University | |
| Wendy Rogers | Macquarie University | |
| Josh Wodak | Western Sydney University | |
| Colin Jackson | The Australian National University | |
| Brad Sherman | The University of Queensland |
References
- ^ "Home". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ^ a b c Council, Australian Research (2019-08-22). "2020 ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology". www.arc.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ^ Investment, NSW Trade and (2020-06-04). "ARC Centres of Excellence". Chief Scientist. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ "Four Centre Members secure ARC Discovery Grants". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. 2022-02-08. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ "Prestigious grant wins for Centre researchers". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ a b c d e ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (13 March 2022). "ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology Annual Report 2021" (PDF). ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
- ^ "ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology soft launches". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. 2020-12-08. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ "Synbio-start up creates an infinite recycling circle for plastics". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ "The Technology". Samsara Eco. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ "About Us". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ "Engage". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ^ "Magazine". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ^ a b "Research". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
External links
- Official website
- Synthetic Biology Australasia (SBA)
- ACOLA report ' Synthetic Biology in Australia: An outlook to 2030'
- Office of the Chief Scientist Australia Occasional Report on Synthetic Biology in Australia
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The Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (CoESB) is a research centre that combines molecular biology, biotechnology, engineering, philosophy and ethics to design and build microbes that produce valuable products from agricultural and municipal waste. The Centre aims to use these microbes to seed a bio-based circular economy and leverage Australia's strengths in agriculture. [1]
The CoESB was awarded A$35 million in funding by the Australian Research Council, [2] A$1 million from the New South Wales Government [3] and A$13.1 million from partner organisations including Australian and international universities, public and private companies and government departments. As of December 2021 CoESB members have attracted A$23 million in additional funding from competitive grant schemes. [4] [5] [6]
The Centre held a virtual soft launch on 8 December 2020 [7] and is planned to run for seven years (2020-2027). [2]
One start-up company, Samsara, has been spun out the Centre. [6] [8] Samsara is an enviro-tech company using bacterial enzymes to recycle otherwise hard to recycle plastics. [9]
Organisation
Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen from Macquarie University is Centre Director and Professor Aleksandra Filipovska from The University of Western Australia is Centre Deputy Director. [10] The CoESB headquarters are located at Macquarie University.
Collaborators and partners of the CoESB are [2] [6]
- The University of Western Australia
- Queensland University of Technology
- The University of Queensland
- University of Newcastle (Australia)|The University of Newcastle
- The Australian National University
- The University of New South Wales
- Curtin University
- Western Sydney University
- The University of Sydney
- The University of Melbourne
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
- The University of York, UK
- University of Edinburgh, UK
- National University of Singapore
- The University of Manchester, UK
- Imperial College London
- Weizmann Institute of Science
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Amyris
- LanzaTech
- Gratuk Technologies
- Microbial Screening Technologies
- Microba
- Spanish National Research Council
- Manildra Group
- Australian Wine Research Institute
- Department of Primary Industries (New South Wales)
- Calysta Energy
- Bioplatforms Australia
- East West Capital
- Neochromosome Inc
- New York University
- Scion New Zealand Crown Research Institute
- Bondi Bio
- Twist Bioscience
- Cemvita Factory
- AllG Foods
The CoESB has engaged a Designer-in-Residence, Dr Jestin George, in 2021-2022 to run workshops for Centre members on the intersection of synthetic biology and design. [11] The Designer-in-Residence in conjunction with a Centre Associate Investigator, Dr Andrew Care, edit an Australian not-for-profit magazine SYNTHESIS. [12]
Research Programs
The aims and objectives of the CoESB are to "engineer synthetic microbes to create a new environmentally friendly and sustainable advanced biomanufacturing industry" and "build next generation microbial cell factories capable of biochemical transformations that are not possible using natural systems". [6]
The CoESB has three research themes: [13]
- Synthetic Microbial Communities
- Synthetic Organelles
- Neobiochemistry
The Centre also has three research capabilities that underlie and support the research themes to maximise research impact: [13]
- Systems Bioengineering
- Industrial Translation
- Social Dimensions
Investigators
As at December 2021, the CoESB has 17 Chief Investigators, 18 Partner Investigators, 22 Associate Investigators, 43 postdoctoral research fellows and 82 higher degree research students conducting research. [6]
| Role | Name | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Ian Paulsen | Macquarie University |
| Deputy Director | Aleksandra Filipovska | The University of Western Australia |
| Chief Operating Officer | J-L Heylen | Macquarie University |
| Chief Investigators | Brett Neilan | The University of Newcastle |
| Lars Nielsen | The University of Queensland | |
| Rachel Parker | The University of Queensland | |
| Michael Gillings | Macquarie University | |
| Lawrence Lee | The University of New South Wales | |
| Oliver Rackham | Curtin University | |
| Ian O'Hara | Queensland University of Technology | |
| Robert Speight | Queensland University of Technology | |
| Esteban Marcellin | The University of Queensland | |
| Kirill Alexandrov | Queensland University of Technology | |
| Nicki Packer | Macquarie University | |
| Wendy Rogers | Macquarie University | |
| Josh Wodak | Western Sydney University | |
| Colin Jackson | The Australian National University | |
| Brad Sherman | The University of Queensland |
References
- ^ "Home". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ^ a b c Council, Australian Research (2019-08-22). "2020 ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology". www.arc.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ^ Investment, NSW Trade and (2020-06-04). "ARC Centres of Excellence". Chief Scientist. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ "Four Centre Members secure ARC Discovery Grants". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. 2022-02-08. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ "Prestigious grant wins for Centre researchers". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ a b c d e ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (13 March 2022). "ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology Annual Report 2021" (PDF). ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
- ^ "ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology soft launches". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. 2020-12-08. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ "Synbio-start up creates an infinite recycling circle for plastics". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ "The Technology". Samsara Eco. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ "About Us". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ "Engage". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ^ "Magazine". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ^ a b "Research". ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
External links
- Official website
- Synthetic Biology Australasia (SBA)
- ACOLA report ' Synthetic Biology in Australia: An outlook to 2030'
- Office of the Chief Scientist Australia Occasional Report on Synthetic Biology in Australia