EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Synthetic Biology

The Synthetic Biology CDT (SBCDT) will focus on the design and engineering of biologically based parts, novel devices and systems as well as the re-design of existing, natural biological systems across all scales from molecules to organisms. Its distinguishing feature will be breadth and depth: the SBCDT will build on the multi-disciplinary expertise offered by the research environment at the Universities of Oxford, Bristol and Warwick to provide training that covers all parts of this extremely broad remit, including not only individual cells but self-assembled biomimetic systems, engineered microbial communities and multicellular organisms, combining the multiple perspectives of engineering and the life and physical sciences. We believe that such coverage is vital in the emerging area of Synthetic Biology; but, equally, this is only currently possible through a collaborative effort across institutions such as ours. In close partnership with our industrial and other partners, with whom we have developed this bid, we will address the recommendation of the recently published Synthetic Biology Roadmap for a "skilled, energized and well-funded UK-wide Synthetic Biology community", which has "the opportunity to revolutionise major industries in bio-energy and bio-technology in the UK" (David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science). The SBCDT will provide five annual 15-student strong cohorts with high-quality and highly practical training in Synthetic Biology that will fill this skills gap and deliver the next generation of internationally excellent researchers and industrial leaders. The training will be based on a varied and innovative programme that will range from classes and seminars to student-led group projects and exploratory and PhD research projects at the forefront of the development of Synthetic Biology. Ethical, Legal and Social considerations, public engagement, and the needs of industrial, academic and potential end users of Synthetic Biology will be integrated into the training programme from the start. We will engender within the cohort a sophisticated, multi-faceted appreciation of the opportunities and potential hazards of Synthetic Biology that is essential to Responsible Innovation. Training will be delivered by a team of world-leading researchers which, like the student intake, will be highly multidisciplinary. We will ensure that the SBCDT takes full advantage of the opportunities provided by the three Universities and will act as a catalyst for inter-university research initiatives underpinned by the unifying influence of a cohesive cohort of students. This will ensure development of Synthetic Biology across the UK and that the UK strengthens its global competitiveness in this very promising field.

The emerging and dynamic field of Synthetic Biology has the potential to provide solutions to some of the key challenges faced by society, ranging across the healthcare, energy, food and environmental sectors. The UK government has recently a "Synthetic Biology Roadmap", which presents a vision and direction for Synthetic Biology in the UK. The report projects that the global Synthetic Biology market will grow from $1.6bn in 2011 to $10.8bn by 2016. It highlights that there is an urgent need for the UK to develop the interdisciplinary skills required to take advantage of the opportunities provided by Synthetic Biology.

The challenge to the academic and industrial research communities is to develop new translational approaches to ensure that these potential benefits are realised. These new approaches will range across the design and engineering of biologically based parts, devices and systems as well as the re-design of existing, natural biological systems across all scales from molecules to organisms. The techniques will encompass not only individual cells, but also self-assembled biomimetic systems, engineered microbial communities and multicellular organisms, combining multiple perspectives drawn from the engineering, life and physical sciences.

Realising these goals will require a new generation of skilled interdisciplinary scientists, and the training of these scientists is the primary goal of the SBCDT. Our programme will give the breadth of coverage to produce a "skilled, energized and well-funded UK-wide synthetic biology community", who will have "the opportunity to revolutionise major industries in bio-energy and bio-technology in the UK" (David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science) in their future careers. This will be made possible through genuine inter-institutional collaboration in partnership with key industrial, academic and public facing institutions.

The potential impact of the SBCDT, and its potential national importance, are very therefore high, and the potential benefits to society are significant.