Funding boost for synthetic biology

Funding of 11.4m for Edinburgh University's Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology was announced by Business Secretary Vince Cable, as part of a UK-wide cash boost for the emerging discipline.

The cash is to be spread over five years to develop a new centre to advance research in synthetic biology - the design of biological organisms with new or improved functions.

Scientists will explore how stem cells can be reprogrammed for use in personalised medicines, help to create improved safety tests for new treatment, and build tools to help identify new types of drugs.

Professor Susan Rosser, director of the Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, said: "This further strengthens Edinburgh's position as a leading centre for synthetic biology in the UK. Applying this powerful technology for human medicine is still in its infancy but Edinburgh is well positioned to take a lead with its pioneering research in cell biology, stem cells and epigenetics."

As part of the new investment, researchers at Edinburgh will also lead two collaborative projects. These will help create the building blocks of synthetic biology - fragments of DNA needed to create useful biological components.

These projects include a 2.4 m plan by the Universities of Edinburgh and Liverpool to study the rapid design and synthesis of DNA circuits.

An additional 2 m project involving the University of Cambridge and the Genome Analysis Centre will seek to enhance the national capacity of synthetic DNA design and manufacture. It will also work to ensure the UK is internationally competitive in the field.

Synthetic biology research centres will also be created at the Universities of Manchester and Warwick.

Synthetic biology is similar to genetic engineering, but is generally defined as the construction of "biological devices and systems for useful purposes".

It shot to public attention in 2010 following the creation of the world's first synthetic organism by US scientists, which sparked Frankenstein-style reports of creatures being brought to life in the lab and evolution being short-circuited in favour of new, manmade organisms.

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Funding boost for synthetic biology