Queen's Joins £10m Biology Centre

Queen’s University in Belfast is to be part of a £10m UK-wide centre to boost links between academia and industry in the field of synthetic biology. Synthetic biology involves the manufacturing of tiny devices from cells and has such uses as producing more sustainable fuels and improving public health.

Queen’s is one of 18 universities and 13 industrial partners that will be involved in the SynbiCITE Innovation and Knowledge Centre, led by Imperial College London.

Professor Christine Maggs, Head of the School of Biological Sciences, will lead Queen’s involvement in SynbiCITE.

Professor Maggs said: "Synthetic biology could be the next 'industrial revolution' for the UK. With potentially huge benefits for health, agriculture, food production, the environment and the production of chemicals, its applications are limitless.

"At Queen’s, we undertake cutting-edge research in biocatalysis, which is a core element of synthetic biology. Biocatalysis involves using natural substances – enzymes or cells – to speed up chemical reactions. Enzymes are at the centre of every reaction that take place in every living thing. They are also used in chemical processes - to produce food, for example, or in tests to diagnose illnesses.

"Our work focusses on creating new methods to develop enzymes in a laboratory setting, so that they can be used in industrial applications. As a SynbiCITE partner, we have the opportunity to collaborate with other leading researchers in this area to help drive forward this important work."

Professor Chris Hardacre, Head of the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, said: "Queen’s involvement in this project will allow the University to take the science of synthetic biology out of academia and into practice. This will provide opportunities for local companies, many of which are already collaborating with us, to access the expertise within the SynbiCITE centre.

"As a member of the EPSRC funded UK Catalysis Hub, for example, we are already conducting ground-breaking research to understand the principles that underpin clean energy production, clean chemical production or 'green chemistry', and environmental protection. This is an area in which we have developed close links with industry in Northern Ireland and beyond, which will continue to flourish as a result of our involvement in SynbiCITE."

(IT/CD)