Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Industrial Biotechnology (IB) is entering a golden age of opportunity. Technological and scientific advances in biotechnology have revolutionised our ability to synthesise molecules of choice, giving access to novel chemistries that enable tuneable selectivity and the use of benign reaction conditions. These developments can now be coupled to advances in the industrialisation of biology to generate innovative manufacturing routes, supported by high throughput and real-time analytics, process automation, artificial intelligence and data-driven science.
The current excess energy demands of manufacturing and its use of expensive and resource intensive materials can no longer be tolerated. Impacts on climate change (carbon emissions), societal health (toxic waste streams, pollution) and the environment (depletion of precious resources, waste accumulation) are well documented and unsustainable. What is clear is that a petrochemical-dependent economy cannot support the rate at which we consume goods and the demand we place on cheap and easily accessible materials. The emergent bioeconomy, which fosters resource efficiency and reduced reliance on fossil resources, promises to free society from many of the shortcomings of current manufacturing practices. By harnessing the power of biology through innovative IB, the FBRH will support the development of safer, cleaner and greener manufacturing supply chains. This is at the core of the UKs Clean Growth strategy.
The EPSRC Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub (FBRH) will deliver biomanufacturing processes to support the rapid emergence of the bioeconomy and to place the UK at the forefront of global economic Clean Growth in key manufacturing sectors - pharmaceuticals; value-added chemicals; engineering materials. The FBRH will be a biomanufacturing accelerator, coordinating UK academic, HVM catapult, and industrial capabilities to enable the complete biomanufacturing innovation pipeline to deliver economic, robust and scalable bioprocesses to meet societal and commercial demand.
The FBRH has developed a clear strategy to achieve this vision. This strategy addresses the need to change the economic reality of biomanufacturing by addressing the entire manufacturing lifecycle, by considering aspects such as scale-up, process intensification, continuous manufacturing, integrated and whole-process modelling. The FBRH will address the urgent need to quickly deliver new biocatalysts, robust industrial hosts and novel production technologies that will enable rapid transition from proof-of-concept to manufacturing at scale. The emphasis is on predictable deployment of sustainable and innovative biomanufacturing technologies through integrated technology development at all scales of production, harnessing UK-wide world-leading research expertise and frontier science and technology, including data-driven AI approaches, automation and new technologies emerging from the 'engineering of biology'.
The FBRH will have its Hub at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology at The University of Manchester, with Spokes at the Innovation and Knowledge Centre for Synthetic Biology (Imperial College London), Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering (University College London), the Bioprocess, Environmental and Chemical Technologies Group (Nottingham University), the UK Catalysis Hub (Harwell), the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (Glasgow) and the Centre for Process Innovation (Wilton). This collaborative approach of linking the UK's leading IB centres that hold complementary expertise together with industry will establish an internationally unique asset for UK manufacturing.
The current excess energy demands of manufacturing and its use of expensive and resource intensive materials can no longer be tolerated. Impacts on climate change (carbon emissions), societal health (toxic waste streams, pollution) and the environment (depletion of precious resources, waste accumulation) are well documented and unsustainable. What is clear is that a petrochemical-dependent economy cannot support the rate at which we consume goods and the demand we place on cheap and easily accessible materials. The emergent bioeconomy, which fosters resource efficiency and reduced reliance on fossil resources, promises to free society from many of the shortcomings of current manufacturing practices. By harnessing the power of biology through innovative IB, the FBRH will support the development of safer, cleaner and greener manufacturing supply chains. This is at the core of the UKs Clean Growth strategy.
The EPSRC Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub (FBRH) will deliver biomanufacturing processes to support the rapid emergence of the bioeconomy and to place the UK at the forefront of global economic Clean Growth in key manufacturing sectors - pharmaceuticals; value-added chemicals; engineering materials. The FBRH will be a biomanufacturing accelerator, coordinating UK academic, HVM catapult, and industrial capabilities to enable the complete biomanufacturing innovation pipeline to deliver economic, robust and scalable bioprocesses to meet societal and commercial demand.
The FBRH has developed a clear strategy to achieve this vision. This strategy addresses the need to change the economic reality of biomanufacturing by addressing the entire manufacturing lifecycle, by considering aspects such as scale-up, process intensification, continuous manufacturing, integrated and whole-process modelling. The FBRH will address the urgent need to quickly deliver new biocatalysts, robust industrial hosts and novel production technologies that will enable rapid transition from proof-of-concept to manufacturing at scale. The emphasis is on predictable deployment of sustainable and innovative biomanufacturing technologies through integrated technology development at all scales of production, harnessing UK-wide world-leading research expertise and frontier science and technology, including data-driven AI approaches, automation and new technologies emerging from the 'engineering of biology'.
The FBRH will have its Hub at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology at The University of Manchester, with Spokes at the Innovation and Knowledge Centre for Synthetic Biology (Imperial College London), Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering (University College London), the Bioprocess, Environmental and Chemical Technologies Group (Nottingham University), the UK Catalysis Hub (Harwell), the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (Glasgow) and the Centre for Process Innovation (Wilton). This collaborative approach of linking the UK's leading IB centres that hold complementary expertise together with industry will establish an internationally unique asset for UK manufacturing.
Planned Impact
The FBRH will promote the emergence of a globally competitive UK biomanufacturing supply chain. Major impacts will include: new knowledge and technical innovation; economic benefits (growth of a sustainable bio-based economy); and societal well-being. These impacts will be across the EPSRC prosperity outcomes for a productive, healthy and resilient nation where delivery of biomanufacturing will provide solutions for major societal grand challenges and will include:
1. New knowledge and technology
By connecting the UKs leading research Centres with real world industrial challenges, the FBRH will accelerate delivery of economically attractive, robust and scalable biomanufacturing processes to meet societal and commercial demand through industrial partnerships and co-created research programmes. Specific impacts will be:
a) Accelerated discovery and delivery of biocatalysts and processes, with faster optimisation to enable their use earlier in manufacturing programmes and allow realisation of the full benefits for 'right first time' biomanufacturing solutions.
b) Innovative technologies that open up routes to: rapid isolation of robust production strains; disruptive production platforms; drop-in and scaled biomanufacturing solutions.
c) Smoothed pathways that change the economic reality of scaling bio-based processes by addressing the entire manufacturing lifecycle, considering key aspects such as process intensification, continuous manufacturing, and whole-process modelling, thereby de-risking new and future technology adoption by UK industry.
2. Economic
The FBRH will connect academic discoveries with the industrial challenges of scale-up and integration to drive commercial viability. The FBRH will catalyse the industrialisation of biology to disrupt manufacturing bottlenecks, deliver broader applications and provide the required step-change in biomanufacturing capabilities. This will drive sustainable and clean manufacturing that will build a high value bioeconomy. Specific economic impacts will:
a) Enable UK technology leadership in key global industries, growing a strong knowledge base and infrastructure connections to support high value manufacturing sectors.
b) Reduce manufacturing costs through efficient, optimised and scalable downstream bioprocesses that deliver eco value-added products (e.g. reduced costs and waste products; increased resource efficiency and productivity; reduced environmental impact and carbon footprint).
c) Utilise alternative feedstocks that reduce dependency on petrochemicals, exploit waste streams, address fluctuations in the supply and demand value chain and provide dependable novel manufacturing chassis for sustainable solutions.
d) Provide 'ready to deploy' and robust continuous flow manufacturing processes that are modular and widely applicable.
3. People, societal and policy
These are aligned to the EPSRC prosperity outcomes for a healthy and productive nation. Specific impacts will:
a) Inspire and train the next generation, address skill-gaps and re-skill the scientific and engineering workforce with a positive impact on UK high value jobs and investment that enables the UK to compete in global markets.
b) Address major societal grand challenges by delivering alternative routes to chemicals, pharmaceuticals and materials manufacture through to sustainable energy, whilst providing clean growth.
1. New knowledge and technology
By connecting the UKs leading research Centres with real world industrial challenges, the FBRH will accelerate delivery of economically attractive, robust and scalable biomanufacturing processes to meet societal and commercial demand through industrial partnerships and co-created research programmes. Specific impacts will be:
a) Accelerated discovery and delivery of biocatalysts and processes, with faster optimisation to enable their use earlier in manufacturing programmes and allow realisation of the full benefits for 'right first time' biomanufacturing solutions.
b) Innovative technologies that open up routes to: rapid isolation of robust production strains; disruptive production platforms; drop-in and scaled biomanufacturing solutions.
c) Smoothed pathways that change the economic reality of scaling bio-based processes by addressing the entire manufacturing lifecycle, considering key aspects such as process intensification, continuous manufacturing, and whole-process modelling, thereby de-risking new and future technology adoption by UK industry.
2. Economic
The FBRH will connect academic discoveries with the industrial challenges of scale-up and integration to drive commercial viability. The FBRH will catalyse the industrialisation of biology to disrupt manufacturing bottlenecks, deliver broader applications and provide the required step-change in biomanufacturing capabilities. This will drive sustainable and clean manufacturing that will build a high value bioeconomy. Specific economic impacts will:
a) Enable UK technology leadership in key global industries, growing a strong knowledge base and infrastructure connections to support high value manufacturing sectors.
b) Reduce manufacturing costs through efficient, optimised and scalable downstream bioprocesses that deliver eco value-added products (e.g. reduced costs and waste products; increased resource efficiency and productivity; reduced environmental impact and carbon footprint).
c) Utilise alternative feedstocks that reduce dependency on petrochemicals, exploit waste streams, address fluctuations in the supply and demand value chain and provide dependable novel manufacturing chassis for sustainable solutions.
d) Provide 'ready to deploy' and robust continuous flow manufacturing processes that are modular and widely applicable.
3. People, societal and policy
These are aligned to the EPSRC prosperity outcomes for a healthy and productive nation. Specific impacts will:
a) Inspire and train the next generation, address skill-gaps and re-skill the scientific and engineering workforce with a positive impact on UK high value jobs and investment that enables the UK to compete in global markets.
b) Address major societal grand challenges by delivering alternative routes to chemicals, pharmaceuticals and materials manufacture through to sustainable energy, whilst providing clean growth.
Organisations
- University of Manchester (Lead Research Organisation)
- BBSRC (Co-funder)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Henry Royce Institute (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- Sphere Fluidics Limited (Project Partner)
- BPE Design and Support Ltd (Project Partner)
- Almac Group Ltd (Project Partner)
- Fingal Wind Ltd (Project Partner)
- Unilever UK & Ireland (Project Partner)
- Arc Trinova Ltd (Arcinova) (Project Partner)
- LabGenius Ltd (Project Partner)
- Prozomix Limited (Project Partner)
- Quorn Foods Limited (Project Partner)
- Allergan (International) (Project Partner)
- BP (International) (Project Partner)
- Dupont Teijin Films (UK) Limited (Project Partner)
- Syngenta (Project Partner)
- Victrex plc (Project Partner)
- BDS Fuels (Project Partner)
- Johnson Matthey (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Biocatalysts Ltd (Project Partner)
- The Consortium of Bio-Propane Producers (Project Partner)
- Singer Instruments (Project Partner)
- GSK (Project Partner)
- BAE Systems Advanced Technology Centre (Project Partner)
- Ingenza (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- CoEBio3 (Project Partner)
- Britest Limited (Project Partner)
- Cogent SSC Ltd (Project Partner)
- Croda Europe Ltd (Project Partner)
- Cambridge Consultants Ltd (Project Partner)
- Calysta Energy Inc (Project Partner)
- C3 Biotechnologies Ltd. (Project Partner)
- DSTL Porton Down (Project Partner)
- Shell PLC (Project Partner)
- CAMS-UK (Project Partner)
Publications
Ahmed S
(2019)
Chemo-enzymatic routes towards the synthesis of bio-based monomers and polymers
in Molecular Catalysis
Allison TM
(2020)
Computational Strategies and Challenges for Using Native Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry in Biophysics and Structural Biology.
in Analytical chemistry
Amer M
(2020)
Low carbon strategies for sustainable bio-alkane gas production and renewable energy
in Energy & Environmental Science
Amer M
(2020)
Renewable and tuneable bio-LPG blends derived from amino acids.
in Biotechnology for biofuels
Amer M
(2020)
Engineering nature for gaseous hydrocarbon production.
in Microbial cell factories
Andrews F
(2024)
Upgrading a cyanobacterial genome-scale model by inclusion of enzymatic constraints
in Algal Research
Andrews F
(2021)
Combinatorial use of environmental stresses and genetic engineering to increase ethanol titres in cyanobacteria.
in Biotechnology for biofuels
Aranda Hernandez J
(2022)
Microfluidic Devices as Process Development Tools for Cellular Therapy Manufacturing.
in Advances in biochemical engineering/biotechnology
Arora S
(2019)
Measuring dynamic capabilities in new ventures: exploring strategic change in US green goods manufacturing using website data
in The Journal of Technology Transfer
Bagnall J
(2020)
Gene-Specific Linear Trends Constrain Transcriptional Variability of the Toll-like Receptor Signaling.
in Cell systems
| Description | The Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub (FutureBRH) was established to deliver the UK Government flagship policy 'Innovation Nation' in the biomanufacturing sector by accelerated delivery of economically attractive, robust, and scalable bio-based manufacturing to meet these urgent societal needs in four key industrial sectors viz Pharmaceuticals; Value-added Chemicals; Engineering Materials; Advanced Synthetic Fuels. FutureBRH provides unique opportunities to unite UK-wide knowledge and capabilities across the whole biomanufacturing pipeline in interdisciplinary programmes and inter-sector collaborations with industry to build UK capacity. These activities are aligned with the five pillars of the UK government's Industrial Strategy and Clean Growth policy built around economic and sustainable biomanufacturing. A strong emphasis has been placed on fostering close interactions with industry to drive innovation in biomanufacturing. In addition to collaborative research projects the FutureBRH has supported several secondments to broaden understanding of the challenges of biomanufacturing at scale. Activities have included reaching out to industry to promote the consideration and adoption of more sustainable bio-based routes to manufacture, and continued knowledge sharing dialogue, including discussions on RRI frameworks, sustainability assessments and public views on synthetic biology and broader perspectives on building a bottom-up bioeconomy. FutureBRH has structured outreach and engagement activities to provide governance and leadership across the UK biomanufacturing sector to support development of national strategies and identify opportunities and their implementation in the biomanufacturing ecosystem. It has hosted a degree apprentice over 18 months and provided a series of work experience placements for T level students from a local college. A sustained portfolio of national policy and strategy engagement has aimed to raise the challenges faced across the biomanufacturing sector and highlight the opportunities that disruptive sustainable manufacturing can bring towards a circular bioeconomy for societal benefit. This has included working with policy (e.g., BIA) funding councils, and providing responses to calls for evidence and verbal input into UKRI/DSIT/Government reviews. Foresight workshops have been used to bring diverse perspectives to biomanufacturing supported by recent industrial biotechnology innovation catalyst IAA funding for the NorthWest (IBIC). National and international engagement has extended beyond academic collaborations with considerations around biomanufacturing of synthetic aviation fuels, financial investment strategies, regulation, and broader biosecurity and health risk considerations around synthetic biology. More general engagement activities have targeted diverse audiences attracting media attention and reaching wider publics. FutureBRH has focused on developing emerging technologies and foundational science that will transition incumbent petrochemicals-based industries to more sustainable biomanufacturing. FutureBRH is now embedding these technology innovations into the burgeoning UK landscape for UK manufacturing through partnership and collaboration, working with industrial partners to advance processes through the TRL's and provide industrial partner support in process de-risking. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | BIA panel on engineering biology at the conservative (Manchester) and labour (Liverpool) party conferences. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Description | BSI Standard for RRI (PAS 440) - P Shapira |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | This BSI Standard for Responsible Research and Innovation provides easy guidelines for adoption by industry. |
| URL | https://pages.bsigroup.com/l/35972/2020-03-17/2cgcnc1?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaig... |
| Description | Engineering biology call for evidence |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/engineering-biology-call-for-evidence#Call%20for%20... |
| Description | Lords select committee call for evidence Engineering Biology |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.engbio.cam.ac.uk/news/house-lords-exploring-potential-engineering-biology |
| Description | CBET-EPSRC: Developing Standardized Cell-Free Platforms for Rapid Prototyping of Complex Synthetic Biology Circuits and Pathways |
| Amount | £507,643 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/T013788/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2019 |
| End | 12/2023 |
| Description | CRUK UK Programme Foundation Award |
| Amount | £34,700 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Cancer Research UK |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2019 |
| End | 06/2025 |
| Description | Development of molecular and genomic tools for the low pH production host Saccharomyces bulderi (aka Kazachstania bulderi) |
| Amount | £126,477 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/T002123/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 05/2023 |
| Description | EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Bioprocess Engineering Leadership (Complex Biological Products Manufacture) |
| Amount | £5,898,149 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/S021868/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 03/2028 |
| Description | Exploring the adaptive landscape of multigenerational inter-specific hybrids to improve iso-butanol tolerance. |
| Amount | £184,519 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/Y009835/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2024 |
| End | 08/2026 |
| Description | High Resolution High Throughput Mass Spectrometry to Characterise Materials, Chemicals, and BioCatalysts |
| Amount | £1,099,473 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/T019328/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 12/2022 |
| Description | Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Cluster |
| Amount | £5,233,296 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/Y024168/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 01/2028 |
| Description | Innovative, Scalable and Sustainable Bio-manufacturing Routes to Precursors of the High Explosive Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane |
| Amount | £151,468 (GBP) |
| Organisation | ONRG Office of Naval Research Global |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 05/2020 |
| End | 05/2021 |
| Description | Integrated bioreactor platform for rapid scale-up and translation |
| Amount | £553,682 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W019779/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2023 |
| End | 02/2024 |
| Description | MONOPOLY (Marie Curie Fellowship) |
| Amount | £177,697 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Marie Curie |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2019 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging for advanced chemical and materials analysis |
| Amount | £810,450 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/T031301/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2020 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | Reverse engineering the soil microbiome: detecting, modeling, and optimizing signal impacts on microbiome metabolic functions |
| Amount | £859,366 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/T010959/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 01/2024 |
| Description | SuCCEED: Sustainable Commodity Chemicals through Enzyme Engineering & Design |
| Amount | £3,053,748 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/Y003276/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2023 |
| End | 11/2028 |
| Description | Tripping the light fantastic: elucidating global protein structural change correlated with chemical change across the femtosecond to second timescale |
| Amount | £1,419,928 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/S030336/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 09/2024 |
| Title | Automated Design/Build/Test/Learn pipeline |
| Description | The Design/Build/Test/Learn pipeline allows rapid prototyping of engineered microbial strains for the production of chemicals and materials. This was highlighted in a recent publication and represents a powerful research "bio-foundry" platform |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This D/B/T/L pipeline is being used to rapidly engineer microbes and represents a major capability of the SYNBIOCHEM Centre. The capability has been maintained since the end of the Centre, supported by Senior Research Technical Professionals and through the Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub. New external collaborations e.g., with S Korea. |
| URL | http://synbiochem.co.uk/synbiochem-pipeline/ |
| Title | Enzyme immobilisation on wood derived scaffolds |
| Description | Development of wood-derived cellulose scaffolds for continuous flow biocatalysis. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Method Patented in March 2021. |
| Title | new instrument platform for the rapid discovery and engineering of biological systems for the manufacture of new advanced Materials from Biology |
| Description | The Royce Institute for advanced materials research and innovation (www.royce.ac.uk) has partnered with the MIB and Future BRH to provide a new instrument platform for the rapid discovery and engineering of biological systems for the manufacture of new advanced Materials from Biology. This is a crucial and burgeoning area of research for the Royce future Chemicals Material Discovery theme and an important focus for the Future BRH. The infrastructure delivers an internationally field-leading capability offering an integrated and fully automated directed evolution platform. Located on the first floor of the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), the equipment includes automated colony picking, next generation sequencing (PacBio), UHPLC analytics and a fully integrated robotics platform which was installed in July 2020 (comprising acoustic and pipette based liquid handling robots, incubators, thermal cyclers etc.). |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Applied to enzyme engineering and synthetic biology protocols the platform complements existing infrastructure and supports research towards: sustainable routes to advanced materials; end of life degradation and recycling; and next generation bio-inspired materials. This equipment is available to new users through academic and industry collaborations. |
| Title | Additional file 1 of Engineering an Escherichia coli strain for enhanced production of flavonoids derived from pinocembrin |
| Description | Supplementary Material 1 |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Additional_file_1_of_Engineering_an_Escherichia... |
| Title | Data for Efficient overexpression and purification of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid proteins in Escherichia coli |
| Description | The datasets provided relate to identification of minor contaminants found in recombinant native and 6-his-tagged SARS-CoV-2 Nucelocapsid proteins. Abstract of publication: The fundamental biology of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleocapsid protein (Ncap), its use in diagnostic assays and its potential application as a vaccine component have received considerable attention since the outbreak of the Covid19 pandemic in late 2019. Here we report the scalable expression and purification of soluble, immunologically active, SARS-CoV-2 Ncap in Escherichia coli. Codon-optimised synthetic genes encoding the original Ncap sequence and four common variants with an N-terminal 6His affinity tag (sequence MHHHHHHG) were cloned into an inducible expression vector carrying a regulated bacteriophage T5 synthetic promoter controlled by lac operator binding sites. The constructs were used to express Ncap proteins and protocols developed which allow efficient production of purified Ncap with yields of over 200 mg per litre of culture media. These proteins were deployed in ELISA assays to allow comparison of their responses to human sera. Our results suggest that there was no detectable difference between the 6His-tagged and untagged original Ncap proteins but there may be a slight loss of sensitivity of sera to other Ncap isolates. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://orda.shef.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Data_for_Efficient_overexpression_and_purification_of_SARS-... |
| Title | HMR_consensus_polished_assembly_circular_AC_191209.fasta |
| Description | Fasta file containing the a single circular contig assembly of genomic DNA for H. bluephagenesis TD01 strain. DNA isolated by Monarch genomic DNA purification kit (New England Biolabs); gDNA sheared by gTube (Covaris) and prepared for sequencing by SMRTbell Express Template Preparation Kit 2.0 protocol; sequenced on Sequel system (Pacific Biosciences) with a 10-hour acquisition. The genome was assembled de novo by the microbial assembly algorithm in SMRT Link. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/HMR_consensus_polished_assembly_circular_AC_191209_fasta/16967... |
| Title | HMR_consensus_polished_assembly_circular_AC_191209.fasta |
| Description | Fasta file containing the a single circular contig assembly of genomic DNA for H. bluephagenesis TD01 strain. DNA isolated by Monarch genomic DNA purification kit (New England Biolabs); gDNA sheared by gTube (Covaris) and prepared for sequencing by SMRTbell Express Template Preparation Kit 2.0 protocol; sequenced on Sequel system (Pacific Biosciences) with a 10-hour acquisition. The genome was assembled de novo by the microbial assembly algorithm in SMRT Link. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/HMR_consensus_polished_assembly_circular_AC_191209_fasta/16967... |
| Title | Synechosytsis sp. PCC6803 citramalate production strains genome sequence data |
| Description | Additional files containing genome sequence data for the strains constructed in this manuscript: Improving production of citramalate from CO2 by Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 through design of experimentHighlights· Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 produced 6.35 g/L of citramalate with a space-time yield of 1.59 g/L/day in 2 L photobioreactors, and 3.96 ± 0.23 g/L and 0.99 ± 0.06 g/L/day in 5 L photobioreactors, from carbon dioxide.· The application of design of experiment increased the rate of citramalate production from an initial 0.068 to optimised 1.59 g/L/day, a ~23-fold increase.· The switch between growth and production can be controlled using process parameters in place of complex genetic circuits and chemical inducers.· Optimised process parameters can increase overall carbon fixation rates of similar Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 photobioreactor cultures from 0.12 g/L/day to 0.77 g/L/day.AbstractBackgroundCyanobacteria have long been suggested as an industrial chassis for the conversion of carbon dioxide to products as part of a circular bioeconomy. The slow growth, carbon fixation rates, and limits of carbon partitioning between biomass and product in cyanobacteria must be overcome to fully realise this industrial potential. Typically, flux towards heterologous pathways is limited by the availability of core metabolites. Citramalate is produced in a single enzymatic step through the condensation of the central metabolites pyruvate and acetyl-CoA; improvements in citramalate productivity can, therefore, be used as a measure of overcoming this limitation. Furthermore, citramalate is a useful biomaterial precursor and provides a route to renewable methyl methacrylate and poly(methyl methacrylate), which is often traded as Perspex or Plexiglas.ResultsHere, we describe a phenomenon where the concerted optimisation of process parameters significantly increased citramalate production in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Design of experiment principles were used to determine the optima for each parameter and the interplay between multiple parameters. The process of scale-up from batch cultures to 0.5, 2, and 5 L photobioreactors is described. At the 2 L scale, citramalate titres from carbon dioxide reached 6.35 g/L with space-time yields of 1.59 g/L/day whilst 5 L PBRs yielded 3.96 ± 0.23 g/L with a productivity of 0.99 ± 0.06 g/L/day. This approach facilitated a ~23-fold increase in citramalate titre from initial unoptimised experiments.ConclusionsThis work demonstrates that the use of a process parameter control regime can ameliorate precursor limitation and enhance citramalate production. Since pyruvate and/or acetyl-CoA give rise to numerous products of biotechnological interest, the workflow presented here could be employed to optimise flux towards other heterologous pathways. Understanding the factors controlling and thus increasing carbon partitioning to product will help progress cyanobacteria as part of a carbon-neutral circular bioeconomy. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Synechosytsis_sp_PCC6803_citramalate_production_strains_genome... |
| Description | CDT BioDesign Engineering |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | Department of Infectious Disease & Epidemiology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is an EPSRC funded CDT programme run by Imperial College with the University of Manchester and University College London. We are working to provide PhD training both to the whole cohort (through RRI training elements) but also to individual PhD students who will work with the Centres as part of their Masters project and conduct their PhDs registered at the University of Manchester. We are full collaborators on this project |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision and hosting of PhD training. |
| Impact | This is a multidisciplinary collaboration training PhD students in BioDesign Engineering. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | CDT BioDesign Engineering |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is an EPSRC funded CDT programme run by Imperial College with the University of Manchester and University College London. We are working to provide PhD training both to the whole cohort (through RRI training elements) but also to individual PhD students who will work with the Centres as part of their Masters project and conduct their PhDs registered at the University of Manchester. We are full collaborators on this project |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision and hosting of PhD training. |
| Impact | This is a multidisciplinary collaboration training PhD students in BioDesign Engineering. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Global Biofoundry Alliance |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The SYNBIOCHEM centre has partnered with other biofoundries across the globe to share expertise and knowhow; intensify collaboration and communication; develop technical and operational responses to common challenges; enhance visibility, impact and sustainability of non-commercial biofoundries; and explore globally relevant and societally impactful grand challenge collaborative projects. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners are sharing expertise and knowhow in a similar way to the SYNBIOCHEM biofoundry to intensify collaboration and communication; develop technical and operational responses to common challenges; enhance visibility, impact and sustainability of non-commercial biofoundries; and explore globally relevant and societally impactful grand challenge collaborative projects. |
| Impact | Sharing of expertise across the design/build/test/learn synthetic biology disciplines. Resulted in joint seminar series and workshops to share ideas and develop collaborations. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Henry Royce Institute |
| Organisation | Henry Royce Institute |
| Department | Henry Royce Institute – University of Manchester Facilities |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration has seen the development of a major equipment capability in the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology. The new infrastructure which includes an integrated automation platform and next generation sequencing will provide major capabilities for the rapid discovery and evolution of molecules for materials and the engineering of new advanced materials from biology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Major funding has been provided by the Henry Royce institute for equipment infrastructure which will support interdisciplinary collaborations with the Institute. This capability is being technically supported by members of the SYNBIOCHEM Centre and Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub. |
| Impact | This is a multidisciplinary collaboration which will bring together expertise in biocatalysts, synthetic biology, biomanufacturing/biotechnology and materials scientists. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Company Name | Deakin Bio |
| Description | Deakin Bio develops carbon efficient technology that uses organic waste to produce bio-based materials that act as sustainable alternatives to ceramic tiles. |
| Year Established | 2021 |
| Impact | None as yet. |
| Website | https://www.deakinbio.com/ |
| Company Name | Young OWL Microfluidics Limited |
| Description | |
| Year Established | 2021 |
| Impact | Novel microfluidics bioreactor designed and coupled to application. |
| Description | Apprenticeship placement |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The FutureBRH hosted a degree apprenticeship placement in the laboratory, working full time in a technical role and supporting various research projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Directed Evolution workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop exploring how to accelerate biocatalyst discovery/delivery and engineer biocatalysts up to an order of magnitude faster than the current industrial time frame. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Future BRH Away Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Two day in person meeting at Shrigely Hall, attended by hub and spoke members |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Future BRH Away Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Event held to showcase Future BRH research to the wider Future BRH community, and enhance collaborative working across the Future BRH Hub and spokes. Open to all Future BRH team members (management, researchers, PhD students). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Future BRH Industry Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | one day industry focussed workshop with industrial partners and stakeholders. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub - Twitter @FutureBRH |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Future BRH Twitter account @FutureBRH used to regularly share Future BRH information/news and engage with professional practitioners/ industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/FutureBRH |
| Description | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub Annual Symposium 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub Annual Symposium 2020 (online event) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/future-brh-annual-symposium-2020-tickets-97327813109 |
| Description | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub Launch Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub Launch Event |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub Newsletter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Future BRH monthly newsletter distributed via Mailchimp to spokes/industry/professional practitioners/PG students via a 'sign up' option on the Future BRH website (https://futurebrh.com/). Newsletter includes wide range of Future BRH updates about events/workshops, recruitment, equipment, team updates and details of upcoming presentations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| URL | https://futurebrh.com/ |
| Description | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub hosted seminar - Biotechnology: The Cataysis for a Sustainable Future (New Statesman) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub hosted seminar (online) - Biotechnology: The Cataysis for a Sustainable Future (New Statesman) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ns-and-mib-webinar-biotechnology-the-catalyst-for-a-sustainable-futur... |
| Description | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub hosted seminar - Digital Technologies for Bioprocess Modelling, Optimisation and Design |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub hosted seminar - Digital Technologies for Bioprocess Modelling, Optimisation and Design (Dongda Zhang) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/dongda.zhang.html |
| Description | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub hosted seminar - Richard Noble OBE |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub hosted seminar - Richard Noble OBE |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub hosted seminar - Techno-Economic, Life Cycle, Sustainability and Societal Analyses |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub hosted seminar - Techno-Economic, Life Cycle, Sustainability and Societal Analyses |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub hosted seminar - The Biotechnology of Brewing (Prof Charles Bamford) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub hosted seminar (online) - The Biotechnology of Brewing (Prof Charles Bamford) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-biotechnology-of-brewing-tickets-113282416758 |
| Description | Greater Manchester Industrial Strategy launch event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Greater Manchester Industrial Strategy launch event, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 13th June 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bio-tech-gets-boost-with-new-local-industrial-strategy-for-greate... |
| Description | Interview for BBC Click broadcast 'Space Homes and Asteroid Mining' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | BBC Click piece included in broadcast 'Space Homes and Asteroid Mining': Interview with Roberts: Regolith biocomposites for off-world construction |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | http://bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0017fv5/click-space-homes-and-asteroid-mining |
| Description | Invited speaker, Michael Lewis |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation from Michael Lewis, a farmer (Renewable Energy Researcher/Farmer/Beekeeper ), to share his perspectives on Future BRH research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | MIB / Future BRH presentation to visiting delegates from Israeli universities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to Israeli University delegation highlighting the strengths of the Future BRH and the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | MIB / Future BRH presentation to visiting delegates from Israeli universities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | MIB / Future BRH presentation to visiting delegates from Israeli universities |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Manchester Evening News article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Manchester Evening News article, interview with Roberts: We're making bricks from moondust, human blood and wee |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/were-making-bricks-moondust-hum... |
| Description | Media attention from article publication - cosmic concrete |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Publication 'Blood, sweat and tears: extraterrestiral regolith biocomposites with in vivo binders' gained significant media attention with over 120 different outlets including BBC radio and national news papers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | New Statesman Biotechnology Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Online webinar. Scrutton presented: Using biotechnology to transition to net zero |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | New Statesman and MIB Webinar: Biotechnology - The Catalyst for a Sustainable Future |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Panel discussion with George Freeman MP, Dr Yvonne Armitage, Professor Lionel Clarke, Professor Rob Field and Jon Bernstein. Accompanied by a magazine produced with an article by N Scrutton and K Malone "Biomanufacturing: a path to sustainable economic recovery". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.newstatesman.com/2020/06/new-statesman-and-mib-webinar-biotechnology-catalyst-sustainabl... |
| Description | New Statesman article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | New Statesman article - Supporting the UK's transition to net zero |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/2021/07/supporting-uk-s-transition-net-zero |
| Description | News and Events page on Future Biomanufacturing Hub website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Future BRH 'news and Events' page on website (https://futurebrh.com/news-and-events/) regularly updated to disseminate information and engage with professional practitioners, and industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| URL | https://futurebrh.com/news-and-events/ |
| Description | Online broadcast research presentation Fuels for Seawater |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Online research presentation (BioChannel TV) on Fuels for Seawater |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://video.ibm.com/recorded/128525699 |
| Description | Online outreach event 'I'm a scientist, stay at home' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Online outreach event 'I'm a scientist, stay at home' (online engagement activity for school pupils ). Attendance numbers were 642. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://imascientist.org.uk/ |
| Description | Online outreach event with the University of the 3rd Age (U3A), Macclesfield . |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Online outreach event with the University of the 3rd Age (U3A), Macclesfield . There were 35 people in attendance. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Online research presentation Next Generation Biomanufacturing for the Bio-Revolution: An International Opportunity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On December 3, 2020 Ontario Genomics in partnership with Policy Horizons Canada and SynBio Canada presented as part of the third Canada's Bio-Revolution Webinar Series, "Next Generation Biomanufacturing for the Bio-Revolution: An International Opportunity" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://vimeo.com/487094282 |
| Description | Outreach event at St Wilfrid's primary school, Hulme, Manchester |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Outreach event at St Wilfrid's primary school in Hulme, Manchester. There were 150 pupils (ages 7 - 11) in attendance at the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Outreach event at Ladybarn Primary School, Withington, Manchester. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Outreach event at Ladybarn Primary School, Withington, Manchester. There were 240 6-11 year olds in attendance at the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Outreach event at RC St Peter's High School in Gorton, Manchester |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Outreach event at RC St peter's High School in Gorton, Manchester. There were 150 Year 5 students in attendance at the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Outreach event at St Wilfrid's primary school, Hulme, Manchester |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Outreach event on Friday 8 November 2019 at St Wilfrid's primary school in Hulme, Manchester. There were 150 KS2 children in attendance at the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Outreach event at Vine Park Primary School, Crewe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Outreach event at Vine Park Primary School in Crewe. There were 115 pupils (ages 7 - 11) in attendance at the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Outreach event at Wistaston Academy, Crewe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Outreach event at Wistaston Academy, Crewe. There were 240 pupils (ages 7 - 11) in attendance at the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Outreach event at the Malvern Festival of Innovation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Outreach event at the Malvern Festival of Innovation Family Day, led by Gholamipour Shirazi |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.festival-innovation.com/programme/the-family-day |
| Description | Outreach stand at British Science Week (Manchester Museum, 11-12 of March 2024). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub stand. Exhibited 3 main activities based around the concept of 'Cell as Factory' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Panel session participation - The Advanced Materials Show 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Roberts attended the The Advanced Materials Show in Birmingham; taking part in a panel discussion entitled 'Enabling Durable Urban Development with Smarter Materials' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://advancedmaterialsshow.com/ |
| Description | Plenary session presentation at SynbiTECH 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scrutton presented: Plenary: Transforming chemicals and synthetic fuels manufacture |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.synbitech.com/2023-conference-programme |
| Description | Podcast - 'Lefteris asks science - Edition 13 - How do we use spider silk? (With Dr. Aled Roberts)' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Podcast - 'Lefteris asks science - Edition 13 - How do we use spider silk? With Dr. Aled Roberts' (Research Fellow, Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.lefterisasks.com/episode/lefteris-asks-science-edition-13-how-do-we-use-spider-silk-with... |
| Description | Research Presentation Biocatalyst Engineering and Synthetic Biology Platforms for Monoterpene Production |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to research staff and students at the University of Tianjin, China on 'Biocatalyst Engineering and Synthetic Biology Platforms for Monoterpene Production' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Research Presentation at 6th International Conference IMPLEMENTATION OF MICROREACTOR TECHNOLOGY IN BIOTECHNOLOGY - IMTB 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Bajic presented: Modular miniaturized enzymatic reactors for continuous biocatalysis: Development and characterization |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://imtb2022.fkkt.uni-lj.si/ |
| Description | Research Presentation at Biomaterials Translation Worksop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Online presentation/workshop. Roberts presented: Regolith Biocomposites for Extraterrestrial Construction (Roberts won Best Flash Presentation Prize) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/biomaterials-translation-workshop-2021-tickets-154556391327 |
| Description | Research Presentation at DEVCOM Soldier Center COVID-19 Virtual Seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Online presentation. Roberts presented: Synthetic biology for advanced functional materials |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Research Presentation at Geography module on UoM BSc course (guest lecture) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | In person guest lecture Roberts presented: Green Space: How off-world construction technologies could promote sustainable development on Earth |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Research Presentation at Pint of Science Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Mathew Russell presented ''Engineering vs Biology in Biomanufacturing' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/biotechnology-unleashing-the-power-of-science |
| Description | Research Presentation at Pint of Science technology Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Aled Roberts presented ''Sustainable Bio-construction for Earth and Space' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/biotechnology-unleashing-the-power-of-science |
| Description | Research Presentation at Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Roberts presented: Rapid Sustainability Assessment of Bio-based Composite Materials) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Research Presentation on Distributed Biomanufacturing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Bio-LPG) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to research staff and students at the University of Beijing, China on 'Distributed Biomanufacturing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Bio-LPG)' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Research Presentations at VISTEC-Manchester mini symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Online symposium Roberts presented: Monoterpene synthase engineering for biomanufacturing of monoterpenoids Leferink presented: Synthetic biology of materials Hedison presented: Biophysics and mechanisms of redox enzymes Scrutton presented: Overview of symthetic biology and biocatalysis research at UK Future BRH |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Research presentation Biocatalyst engineering and synthetic biology platforms for monoterpene production in E. coli |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Guest lecture for undergraduates at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (Rotterdam, Netherlands) on the 'Biocatalyst engineering and synthetic biology platforms for monoterpene production in E. coli'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Research presentation Integration of electrosynthesis and biocatalysis in batch and flow |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research presentation entitled 'Integration of electrosynthesis and biocatalysis in batch and flow' at the Royal Society of Chemistry meeting, Applied Late-stage Functionalisation: Where Chemistry meets Biology, Manchester UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.rsc.org/events/detail/41281/applied-late-stage-functionalisation-where-chemistry-meets-b... |
| Description | Research presentation Microbial cell factories - engineering biology for chemicals production |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Online research presentation, at UK Catalysis Hub webinar on 'Microbial cell factories - engineering biology for chemicals production'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://ukcatalysishub.co.uk/microbial-cell-factories-engineering-biology-for-chemicals-production/ |
| Description | Research presentation Sustainable Low-cost Production of Linalool from Waste |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research presentation to professional practitioners at the US Airforce, Arlington, USA on 'Sustainable Low-cost Production of Linalool from Waste'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Research presentation Unexpected Roles of Tethering in Modular Nitrite Reductase Catalysis |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research presentation at Pathways (GRS) conference in New Hampshire, USA on 'Unexpected Roles of Tethering in Modular Nitrite Reductase Catalysis'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Research presentation at Futureproof Your Planet outreach program |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Roberts presented: Building with Biology: Sustainable Construction on Earth and Beyond |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.scieng.manchester.ac.uk/futureproof-your-planet/welcome/ |
| Description | Research presentation at 2023 Lunar Development Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Roberts presented: Regolith biocomposites for off-world construction |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.moonsociety.org/conferences/2023-ldc/ |
| Description | Research presentation at Institute of Process Research and Development, Leeds |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Messiha presented: Towards shaping a sustainable future and promoting a circular economy for materials Biotechnology for the production of value-added chemicals and materials from renewable biomass and intermediate feedstocks |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Research presentation at MOME Future Materials Conference (Budapest) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Roberts presented: Bioinspired hybrid materials for sustainable construction on Earth and beyond |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://mome.hu/en/events/future-materials-conference-2023 |
| Description | SynBiTECH 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | SynbiTECH Virtual 2020 is Europe's only international synthetic biology conference for innovators and experts in synthetic biology research, commercialisation, investment and policymaking. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.synbitech.com |
| Description | T Level student work experience placement |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The FutureBRH hosted 4 T level students for a period of 4 weeks work experience. They were provided with full H&S inductions and hands on laboratory experience in microbiological techniques. This activity led on to further interactions with the local college and additional placements. All students reported an interest in pursuing a career in science and one gained a degree apprenticeship. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | T Level student work placements |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 6 T level students have been hosted by the FutureBRH researchers for a programme of hands on activity at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology. They have a full schedule of 1 day per week for 20 weeks, including full H&S inductions and hands on laboratory work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | TEA, LCA, SE perspectives workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Industry focused workshop explored Techno-economic, Life-cycle and Socio-economic perspectives of biomanufacturing production processes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Telegraph article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Telegraph article with Roberts: 'Scientists create super-strength 'cosmic concrete' for building on Mars' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/16/scientists-create-super-strength-cosmic-concrete-buildin... |
| Description | UK US Showcase |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The UK-US showcase on synthetic biology for defence co-organised by the UK DSTL in partnership with ONR Global and representatives from DEVCOM and US air force, brought together UK and UK representatives and researchers to discuss the rapidly evolving field of synthetic biology (engineered biology). An additional half day showcase was hosted at the Manchester Institute of biotechnology to highlight capability in the engineering biology and materials fields. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | UKRI showcase |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | UKRI showcase to UK government ministers: Manufacture of Advanced Synthetic Fuels - Realising Net Zero |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Unlilever 'functionalised polysaccharides' Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Unlilever 'functionalised polysaccharides' Workshop |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Visit by Chinese Minister of Science & Technology, Mr Wang Zhigang |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Visit by Chinese Minister of Science & Technology, Mr Wang Zhigang |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Visit by Chris Skidmore MP, Minister for State for BEIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Visit by Chris Skidmore MP, Minister for State for BEIS |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Workshop at Bruntwood Tech Incubator 'Making bio-concrete' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A collaboration between artists and scientists through an initiative called para-lab |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |