Talking Synthetic Biology — Launch of Synthetic Biology Dialogue Report
Venter does it again — Landmark paper published by the J. Craig Venter Institute
Redesigning ribosomes — Nature paper by the Chin lab
16 July 2008
The SynBioStandards Network is one of seven networks established as a joint inititative between four UK research councils with the aim of building the UK's expertise and capacity in this emerging field, while also ensuring public engagement from the off.
Funding for the seven networks, which formally involve eight universities, is primarily provided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with involvement in some cases from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
Professor Nigel Brown, the director of science and technology at the BBSRC, speaking on behalf of all four funding research councils, said: "The UK has world-class bioscience and engineering communities and our aim is to build capacity for a world-leading UK synthetic biology research community quickly.
"Synthetic biology has huge potential to help us both further our understanding of natural biological systems and also develop new biologically-based systems to tackle future challenges.
"The four research councils working together in this initiative shows that the future of synthetic biology in the UK relies not only on bringing together biologists and engineers but also on ensuring that the societal issues are considered from the start."
BBSRC Press Release, 29 May 2008
Grant winners
Article listing the seven funded networks and PIs, Times Higher Education, 29 May 2008
'It starts with one Biobrick...'
Article by Chloe Stothart, quoting SynBioStandards Network PI Alistair Elfick, Times Higher Education, 29 May 2008
