About


Each year over 300 iGEM teams come up with creative and novel synthetic biology solutions for an expansive range of challenges. In order to help out teams with their continued education in synthetic biology and to provide them the support to publish their projects, we have been working with academic journals to create opportunities for iGEMers to publish their work in peer-reviewed journals. Last year, we collaborated with KeAi publishing ↗ to create a special issue of the Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology journal for iGEM teams. Over 12 iGEM teams, from 2019 and 2020, published their iGEM projects through this collaboration. In 2023, we collaborated with Frontiers in Systems Biology ↗ to feature iGEMers and their work in the Emerging Talents Series

. This collaboration provided an opportunity to iGEM teams and iGEMers to publish their iGEM projects on dedicated topics.

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Publications from 2023 are available here! You can also read more about publications form iGEMers here


Topic 1: Diseases

A disease is a medical condition where the normal functioning of our body is affected, which results in particular signs and symptoms. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of diseases is a fundamental step to arrive to effective and efficient therapeutic intervention and drug treatments. The rapid advances in systems biology and biotechnology have equipped scientists with promising tools to fight diseases.

Exemplary iGEM Projects

Many young, budding scientists have directed their interest and attention to disease diagnostics and prevention as shown by their popularity during the last editions of the iGEM Competition with teams showing a strong interest in solving disease-related problems, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

2019 iGEM BIT from China was also awarded a gold medal for a microbial sensor that detects oxidative damage reagents and can potentially help to prevent DNA damage.

2018 iGEM CUHK from Hong Kong put their efforts into tackling Influenza and was awarded a gold medal for designing a rapid RNA-based influenza diagnostic tool.

2022 iGEM WUR ↗ from the Netherlands was awarded a gold medal for developing a probiotic bacteria that can sense colorectal cancer at an early stage.

More projects on "Diseases" can be found through the Phoenix Project.

This Research Topic was open for iGEM Competition participants and it was intended as an avenue where student iGEM competing teams can present their work to the broader scientific community in the form of a peer-reviewed paper.

We were interested in original research articles, systematic reviews, and methods that tackle various diseases and use systems/synthetic biology principles and bioengineering methods. New engineering methods were encouraged. We welcomed articles that discussed diagnostics and therapeutic developments for disease. Original research and new methods articles were also a main focus because it has the scope to lead the field into new and exciting directions.

Our expert Editors guided authors through the peer review process with support also provided by Frontiers. The manuscripts followed all the guidelines ↗ given on the journal website for the specific article type.

Topic Editors & Coordinators

Professor Ioannis (Yannis) P. Androulakis
Professor Ioannis (Yannis) P. Androulakis
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Topic Editor
Rutgers University
Assistant Professor Edoardo Saccenti
Assistant Professor Edoardo Saccenti
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Topic Editor
Wageningen University
Xiaogang Wu
Xiaogang Wu
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Topic Editor
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Prince Jhandai
Prince Jhandai
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Topic Coordinator
United States of America

Topic 2: Use of Foundational Principles to Advance Systems and Synthetic Biology

Biology is a broad science so it has many definitions, theories and explanations about the mechanisms that sustain life. Synthetic biology utilizes biological principles to create what can be seen as a technology. Examples of the interdisciplinary technology are based on many types of self-organization (self-activity, self-assembly, self-replication, autonomy) by using an engineering approach to biology. BioBrick and biocircuit technologies in synthetic biology are important because they increase the capacity of testing, designing and synthesizing that can be done in biological systems and beyond.

By developing new technologies we can improve the most important areas for the progress of synthetic biology: digital biology, the problem of sameness in biology, pattern recognition, and the construction of artificial proteins. Biotechnology and synthetic biology have been advancing like never before. Numerous great tools are used in research that allows fields to progress faster than ever, but we still have a long way to go.

Exemplary iGEM Projects

iGEM teams have spotted a great opportunity to develop tools for biosciences and biotechnology.

2015 iGEM TecCEM from Mexico was awarded a silver medal for DNAbots, a self-replicating and self-assembling innovative nanotechnology.

2014 iGEM Heidelberg won a iGEM Grand Prize for their work on designing a universal toolbox for modifying proteins post-translationally utilizing inteins and sortases. They provided a new foundational advance introducing full post-translational modification to Synthetic Biology.

More projects on the "Use of Foundational Principles to Advance Systems and Synthetic Biology" can be found through the Phoenix Project.

This Research Topic is open for iGEM Competition participants and our expert Editors will guide authors through the peer review process with support also provided by Frontiers.

We were interested in original research articles, systematic reviews, and methods that tackle the field of biotechnology. Technology in synthetic biology is very useful for applications in medicine, climate change, energy, and beyond. We suggested thinking about articles titles with general themes like: synthetic biology as technology, synthetic biology as part of Biotechnology, biopatterning technology for the development of biotechnology, What is Biopatterning recognition? What is biopatterning technology? Which are the main problems for the development of synthetic biology? The manuscripts followed all the rules guidelines ↗ given in the journal website for this type of article, and it can be done in many different formats.

Topic Editors & Coordinators

Jason Lohmueller
Jason Lohmueller
Topic Editor
Assistant Professor, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States of America
Maria Suarez-Diez
Maria Suarez-Diez
Topic Editor
Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
Tanishk Sinha
Tanishk Sinha
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iGEM Community Topic Coordinator
Atlanta, US

Topic 3: Systems Microbiology in Biomanufacturing, and Industrial Scale-Up

Biomanufacturing is the use of biological systems, such as microorganisms, animal cells, or plant cells, to produce valuable products such as vaccines, therapeutic proteins, biofuels, and enzymes. It involves the manipulation and engineering of living organisms to produce specific compounds or materials, using advanced biotechnology techniques.

Biomanufacturing has the potential to provide more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to traditional manufacturing methods, as it can use renewable resources and reduce waste and energy consumption. Biomanufacturing in the field of systems microbiology is rapidly expanding, with new technologies and applications emerging all the time and the industrial scale up needed to match with manufacturing and commercial processes requires time and investment for success. If completed correctly though, it has significant implications for medicine, energy, agriculture, and many other industries.

Exemplary iGEM Projects

Technion-Israel 2022 ↗ designed a synthetic circuit to decrease the production of decursin and enable therapeutic applications to be further explored. The team was among the top 10 finalists and was awarded the best biomanufacturing project award in 2022.

WWU_Muenster 2022 ↗ established an adaptable platform for monoterpenoid production, versatile biomolecules with broad applications in healthcare, agriculture, and consumer products. The team was among the top 10 finalists, was nominated for the best biomanufacturing project award, and was awarded the best software tool award in 2022.

More projects on "Systems Microbiology in Biomanufacturing, and Industrial Scale-Up" can be found through the Phoenix Project.

This Research Topic was open for iGEM Competition participants and our expert Editors guided authors through the peer review process with support also provided by Frontiers.

We were interested in original research articles, systematic reviews, and methods that tackle various biomanufacturing problems and use synthetic biology principles and bioengineering methods. New engineering methods were encouraged. We prefered the articles to utilize synthetic biology. Original research and new methods articles were a main focus because it has the scope to lead the field into new and exciting directions. The manuscripts followed all the rules guidelines ↗ given in the journal website for this type of article, and it can be done in many different formats.

Topic Editors & Coordinators

Rohini Garg
Rohini Garg
Topic Editor
Associate Professor, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, India
Han de Winde
Han de Winde
Topic Editor
Professor, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
Adline Princy Solomon
Adline Princy Solomon
Topic Editor
Professor, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India
Yorgo El Moubayed
Yorgo El Moubayed
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Topic Coordinator
Paris, France

Topic 4: Systems Biology Approaches for Bioremediation

Bioremediation is a process that uses living organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or plants, to clean up environmental pollutants. These organisms can break down or transform harmful substances, such as oil spills, pesticides, and heavy metals, into less toxic or non-toxic compounds. Bioremediation can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methods of cleanup, such as incineration or excavation.

However, the effectiveness of bioremediation depends on several factors, including the type of pollutant, the environmental conditions, and the ability of the chosen organism to degrade the pollutant. Bioremediation has been used successfully in a variety of settings, including oil spills, contaminated soil, and groundwater. The complexity involved however in predicting and controlling such events would benefit greatly from a systems biology frame and the use of systems biology tools, such as metabolic networks alongside computational tools.

Exemplary iGEM Projects

Overgraduate team Ionis_Paris 2022 ↗ focused on upgrading brewers' spent grain, a largely available waste produced by the beer brewing industry, into a power source; providing brewers a solution to reduce their carbon footprint while getting rid of the unwanted waste they generate. The team was among the top 10 finalists and was awarded the best climate crisis project award in 2022.

Undergraduate team Nanjing-China 2022 ↗ improved microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to turn waste organic matter into clean energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving power generation. The team was nominated for two awards: best climate crisis project and best sustainable development impact in 2022.

More projects on "Systems Biology Approaches for Bioremediation" can be found through the Phoenix Project.

This Research Topic was open for iGEM Competition participants and our expert Editors guided authors through the peer review process with support also provided by Frontiers.

We were interested in original research articles, systematic reviews, and methods that tackle various bioremediation, environment, agriculture and food problems and use synthetic biology principles and bioengineering methods. New engineering methods were encouraged. We prefered the articles to utilize synthetic biology. Original research and new methods articles were a main focus because it has the scope to lead the field into new and exciting directions. The manuscripts followed all the rules guidelines ↗ given in the journal website for this type of article, and it can be done in many different formats.

Topic Editors & Coordinators

Agnès Rodrigue
Agnès Rodrigue
Topic Editor
Assistant Professor, INSA Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
Supratim Datta
Supratim Datta
Topic Editor
Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, India
Yorgo El Moubayed
Yorgo El Moubayed
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Topic Coordinator
Paris, France

Submission Information

Article types

Frontiers offered multiple article types to maximize options for disseminating iGEMers' work. Only article types that appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process are available for submission to the selected section. Since iGEM teams conceive novel projects, they fall under the category of Original Research. More information on all the article types is available on the Frontiers website ↗.

Publication fees

Frontiers is a Gold Open Access publisher, meaning that authors incur a one off Article Processing Charge (APC) ↗ which varies depending on the article type ↗ accepted after the peer review process. However, Frontiers does not want this charge to be an obstacle for researchers publishing their work and as such Frontiers have a centralised Fee Support program to help assist researchers in the paying of APCs. This Fee Support program has a good track record of being highly supportive of early-stage career researchers, students, and those from underprivileged communities. Frontier’s also have many Institutional Memberships ↗ worldwide and encourage authors to check using the link provided.


Contact

Submissions are now closed; however if you have any questions about publishing opportunities please contact us via frontiers-collaboration@igem.org.


iGEM Community Resources

Academic Publishing Workshops

Learn more about academic writing and publishing through workshops organized by our Academia and Research community members. The workshops covered:

  • The Basics of Scientific Writing by Steve Kirk
  • The Analysis and Visualization of Gene Expression Data by Dr. Jacob Beal
  • The in’s and out’s of paper submission and publication by Dr. Bilge San
  • Q&A panel of iGEMers with published iGEM projects

Demystifying The Publication Process

Demystifying The Publication Process is an ongoing project led by our community members interested in Academia and Research. It aims to create an interactive guide for iGEM teams seeking to publish their research. The members will create high-quality videos to show the steps of the publication process, including editing, peer review, and submission. Additionally, they will create a comprehensive handbook to provide guidance to teams on how to navigate publication.