Members from the community interested in Governance and Policy are conducting independent research into policy topics related to synthetic biology. This activity aims to produce a series of whitepapers and aims to encourage the iGEM community to participate in public policy discussions. We hope the research produced by this activity will be of interest to both the iGEM community and the broader governance and policy communities. We also hope they will demonstrate how young synthetic biologists can contribute directly to governance discussions.
This year, the project will be structured into cycles, each lasting three months and culminating in a presentation and report. This approach allows for focused research sprints, with each cycle and team dedicated to a specific theme or policy issue within synthetic biology.
Each research team will have 3-4 members, paired with a mentor who has expertise in the topic. Team members will be selected based on their interests, unique perspectives, and ability to perform independent research. Mentors will guide the research process, offering insights and ensuring the research trajectory remains on track.
Participation in this project offers team members a unique opportunity not only to enhance their research and analytical skills but also develop competencies in collaborative problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, and policy recommendation drafting.
Our call extends beyond the search for collaborators; we seek pioneers. Whether you’re from academia, industry, or anywhere in between, if you possess a keen interest in synthetic biology and a desire to impact the future of this domain there’s a place for you here.
These are the projects scheduled for the first phase of the project (July 21 - Oct. 31, 2024). For more details on each project, please expand the sections below.
This project will explore the combined use of Generative AI and synthetic biology for designing DNA and RNA sequences. It will specifically focus on technological advancements and the corresponding biosafety policy frameworks set up in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). While the UK and USA have advanced biosecurity policies addressing AI and related biothreats, perspectives and initiatives from the global south are often overlooked. Hence, this project aims to uncover those by producing a POSTnote, a prominent report utilised by the UK Parliament, which will succinctly outline emerging research areas, their challenges, and necessary solutions. This project is recruiting 2-3 participants, with Asmae Ait Abdallah ↗ as project lead.
This project will focus on investigating the regulation and biosecurity risk assessment of synthetic cell technology in environmental remediation applications. By examining the regulatory needs, ecological impacts and containment strategies, the project aims to develop biosecurity policy recommendations to govern synthetic cell applications and research in environmental remediation. It thus aims to identify key regulatory challenges and develop specific strategies for safe implementation of this technology in the environment. The approach of the method to be used will involve stakeholder interviews and environmental related case studies, that will help to create actionable policy recommendations that balance innovation with ecological safety to address dual-use concerns, contributing to a comprehensive framework that balances technological benefits while addressing the critical environmental issues. This project is recruiting 5 participants, with Simon Anguzu ↗ as project lead.
This project aims to enhance cooperation between academia, industry, and government in India. We will identify key barriers, propose strategies to improve collaboration and evaluate the impact of existing policies. By using a mixed-methods approach - including stakeholder surveys, interviews, and case studies, the project seeks to develop actionable recommendations. The goal is to foster innovation, address societal challenges, and promote ethical research practices in synthetic biology within the Indian context. This project is recruiting 4 participants, with Sarvesh Galgale ↗ as project lead.
We are open for recruitment of new project members. If you’re passionate about driving research in synthetic biology and eager to contribute to shaping its policy landscape.
Recruitment is currently closed! You can connect with us on Slack ↗ for more information!
In addition to Project Members, we're seeking mentors with experience in synthetic biology or policy research and interested in guiding our teams and making an impact on the future of synthetic biology. If you're keen on participating in a project cycle, we'll provide you with additional details about the project cycle, including information on mentors and project directions, once the application period officially opens.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can connect with Jo Yi Chow on Slack ↗, LinkedIn, or send an email to policy@igem.org
In 2023, we published two blog posts to help you:
Explore how iGEM teams harness the power of genetic engineering to create sustainable solutions, tackling environmental challenges and paving the way for a healthier planet.
Embark on your Bio-Entrepreneurship journey by navigating the Common Challenges that lie ahead.
Exploration of the opportunities and limitations that biofoundries have towards facilitating citizen science, environmental monitoring, and biosurveillance. Biofoundries are highly automated facilities for processing of biological samples and have a major role in accelerating innovation and product development in engineering biology by implementing design, build, test and learn (DBTL) cycles. As more and more of these facilities are being constructed, a question arises: what other ways can biofoundries be leveraged to maximize their utility and encourage adoption of such automated facilities? In response to this question, we explored the opportunity to expand the scope of applications for biofoundries towards citizen science, biosurveillance, and biosecurity.
Read the pre-print
We reviewed literature and interviewed several researchers and users of biofoundfies to identify their perspectives on the potential applications of biofoundries.
We are developing an exploratory paper investigating what and how biofoundries can be fully leveraged in context outside of primary research and development and towards biosecurity and biosurveillance applications.
