Integrated enzyme discovery and pathway optimisation for bagase valorisation

Lead Research Organisation: University of Manchester
Department Name: School of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
 
Description The activity within this pump-priming grant was primarily focused on building an international collaboration team (UK-Brazil), to that end a number of visits and meetings were held between the UK and Brazilian project partners. This activity led to a successful large grant application looking to take the proposed research forward. In addition researcher exchange (UK to Brazil) took place, we developed a biosensor for chemical building block derived from biomass waste (lignin bagasse) which has now been published.
Exploitation Route The research performed is now published in an Open Access journal, and allows researchers more efficient ways to screen for enzymes utilised in bio-mass valorisation.
Sectors Chemicals,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology

URL http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2016/cc/c6cc04559f#!divAbstract
 
Description BBSRC-FAPESP joint call in advanced biofuels
Amount £2,082,439 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/P01738X/1 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2017 
End 02/2022
 
Description Cellulosomes - a versatile enzymatic scaffold platform for bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass into value-added fine chemicals
Amount £50,000 (GBP)
Organisation São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) 
Sector Public
Country Brazil
Start 04/2019 
End 04/2020
 
Description Engineering Novel Allosteric Transcription Factor Recognition: Applications in Bio-catalysis and Synthetic Biology
Amount £80,000 (GBP)
Funding ID 2110033 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2018 
End 09/2022
 
Description Proof of Concept - CMBNet
Amount £35,032 (GBP)
Funding ID BIOCATNET PoC-012 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Department Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (NIBB)
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2015 
End 10/2015
 
Description Rutherford Fund Strategic Partner Grants
Amount £149,500 (GBP)
Funding ID RF-2018-41 
Organisation Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2018 
End 03/2019
 
Description Science Without Boarders
Amount £120,000 (GBP)
Organisation National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) 
Sector Public
Country Brazil
Start 10/2015 
End 08/2020
 
Description UK Catalysis Hub
Amount £172,000 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/M013219/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2018 
End 04/2020
 
Description Collaboration with Brazil Flavour and Fragrance Company 
Organisation Natura Brasil
Country France 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution This Flavour and Fragrance Company are collaborators on a 5 year UK-Brazil Academia-Industry collaboration
Collaborator Contribution Guidance on target molecules and markets being developing through the research program
Impact Multi-discplainry 5 year collaboration, too early in the project for outputs
Start Year 2017
 
Description Collaboration with CTBE, Brazil 
Organisation Bioethanol Science and Technology Centre (CTBE)
Country Brazil 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution During a Faculty-led Research Development visit to Brazil, we visited the Brazilian National Laboratory for Bioethanol (CTBE). Following this visit, myself and Fabio Squina (CTBE) have been in communication about applying ours interests in synthetic biology to facilitate enzyme discovery associated with lignin-biomass valorisation. We hosted visitors from the CTBE and other research institutes in Brazil at Industrial Biotechnology Bioenergy Meeting that I co-organised. This led to a successful funding application to the BBSRC/FAPESP (FAPPA) pump-priming call, to allow us to explore these preliminary ideas and facilitate further networking and research consortia building activities. Most recently we re-visited the CTBE to further develop collaborators links and build a research proposal. This has led to exchange of materials, a proposed exchange of personnel between my laboratory and the CTBE, and most recently to a large funding application to the BBSRC/FAPESP (>£2.5 UK).
Collaborator Contribution During a Faculty-led Research Development visit to Brazil, we visited the Brazilian National Laboratory for Bioethanol (CTBE). Following this visit, myself and Fabio Squina (CTBE) have been in communication about applying ours interests in synthetic biology to facilitate enzyme discovery associated with lignin-biomass valorisation. We hosted visitors from the CTBE and other research institutes in Brazil at Industrial Biotechnology Bioenergy Meeting that I co-organised. This led to a successful funding application to the BBSRC/FAPESP (FAPPA) pump-priming call, to allow us to explore these preliminary ideas and facilitate further networking and research consortia building activities. Most recently we re-visited the CTBE to further develop collaborators links and build a research proposal. This has led to exchange of materials, a proposed exchange of personnel between my laboratory and the CTBE, and most recently to a large funding application to the BBSRC/FAPESP (>£2.5 UK).
Impact Outcomes: A proposed funding application to the BBSRC/FAPESP (>£2.5 UK). Multi-discplianry collaboration: Synthetic Biology, Meta-transcriptomics, Enzyme discovery, biocatalysis, bioprocess development, life-cycle analysis.
Start Year 2013
 
Description Collaboration with UCL 
Organisation University College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed whole cell biocatalysts for the biotransformation of waste/low value biomass residues into high-value fragrance and flavour compounds
Collaborator Contribution Scale up of the biotransformation process converting waste/low value biomass residues into high-value fragrance and flavour compounds
Impact Pending, outputs in preparation
Start Year 2016
 
Description BBSRC Enterprise Fellowships Networking 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 BBSRC Enterprise Fellowships Networking Event
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Croda Open Innovation 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 New project ideas discussed.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF):

+provide an open forum for debate on science and technology and research policies in Europe
+strengthen the links between science and society
+contribute to the creation of an integrated space for science and technology in Europe, linking research organisations and policies at national and EU levels; strive for a greater role of the EU in research and
+influence science and technology policies.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://manchester2016.esof.eu/en/
 
Description FLS Community Open Day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact An outreach stand about biotechnology for the production of fragrance compounds and public opinion of synthetic biology
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Institute Open Day (Outreach) 
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 Synthetic Biology stand at MIB open-day attended by >200 A levels students
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014,2015,2016
 
Description Invited speaker at CTBE and UNICAMP 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Participants in your research and patient groups
Results and Impact Talks sparked Q&A, and supported subsequent discussions around research proposal

Further funding applications
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description SMART-Map Industrial Dialogue on Synthetic Biology 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact Workshop on the responsible development of Synthetic Biology which forms part of the EU H2020 SMART-map project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://projectsmartmap.eu/
 
Description SynBioChem Workshop on Responsible Research and Innovation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact Roundtable discussant at SynBioChem Workshop on Responsible Research and Innovation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description iGEM Giant Jamboree 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Synthetic Biology iGEM Giant Jamboree
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://2016.igem.org/Giant_Jamboree