Engineering biology
This meeting will explore the innovations that are transforming the future of engineering biology.
Engineering biology refers to the use of specialist tools and technologies to produce biology-derived processes and products, which are often more sustainably produced than their existing counterparts. Engineering biology is one of five critical technologies identified by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) as areas where the UK is in an excellent position to lead the world.
However, as this field continues to rapidly advance, it is vital that we are able to translate and apply ground-breaking research into commercial settings through innovation that is trustworthy and responsible.
This conference will explore the translation journey of new technology from the laboratory to the market, how responsible innovation can be facilitated, what is needed to improve UK infrastructure as well as what funding mechanisms could be employed to realise the full potential of these innovations.
Transforming our future conferences
This conference forms part of the Royal Society's industry-focused Transforming our future series. These unique meetings feature cutting-edge science and bring together experts from industry, academia and government to explore and address key scientific and technical challenges of the coming decade.
Organisers
Schedule
| 09:30-09:40 |
Welcome and opening remarks
Professor Sir David Baulcombe FRS
Professor Sir David Baulcombe FRS
"David Baulcombe studied Botany at Leeds (BSc) and Edinburgh (PhD) Universities. After periods in Montreal, the University of Georgia and the Cambridge Plant Breeding Institute he spent 20 years at the Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich. He joined Cambridge University in 2007 where he is Royal Society Research Professor and Regius Professor of Botany."
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| 09:40-10:05 |
Opening keynote
Professor Jason Chin, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Professor Jason Chin, MRC Laboratory of Molecular BiologyJason Chin is a Programme Leader at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology (MRC-LMB), where he is also the Head of the Centre for Chemical & Synthetic Biology (CCSB). He is a Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at the University of Cambridge Department of Chemistry and a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Jason was an undergraduate at Oxford, obtained his PhD as a Fulbright grantee from Yale, and was a Damon Runyon Fellow at Scripps. From July 2003 to early 2007 he was a tenure-track group leader at MRC-LMB. He became an EMBO Young Investigator in 2005 and a tenured group leader in 2007. He was awarded the Francis Crick Prize by the Royal Society in 2009 and the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Corday Morgan Prize in 2010. He was also awarded the European Molecular Biology Organization’s (EMBO) Gold Medal and elected to EMBO membership in 2010. He is the inaugural recipient (2011) of the Louis-Jeantet Young Investigator Career Award, and in 2013 was elected to the European Inventor Hall of Fame. In 2016 he was elected fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. |
Chair
Dr David Tew
GSK
Dr David Tew
GSK
| 10:05-10:10 |
Introduction to Session 1
Dr David TewGSK
Dr David TewGSK |
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| 10:10-10:25 |
Early discovery research
Dr Naomi NakayamaImperial College London
Dr Naomi NakayamaImperial College London |
| 10:25-10:40 |
Spinout story
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| 10:40-10:55 |
Bringing products to market
Dr Sara HollandPotter Clarkson LLP
Dr Sara HollandPotter Clarkson LLP Sara completed a PhD in chromosome engineering before working as a postdoctoral researcher for eight years in yeast molecular biology. She has been at Potter Clarkson as a patent attorney for the past ten years, working mostly with scientist founders and SMEs in biotechnology, with a particular focus on synthetic biology. Because of her academic background, she is keen to increase knowledge of IP and the crucial role it plays in getting our research out of the lab into the real world. |
| 10:55-11:05 |
Q&A
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Chair
Professor Anne Osbourn
John Innes Centre
Professor Anne Osbourn
John Innes Centre
| 11:35-11:40 |
Introduction to Session 2
Professor Anne OsbournJohn Innes Centre
Professor Anne OsbournJohn Innes Centre |
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| 11:40-11:55 |
SAW Trust
Dr Jenni RantJohn Innes Centre
Dr Jenni RantJohn Innes Centre |
| 11:55-12:10 |
Creating responsible innovation
Professor Joyce TaitUniversity of Edinburgh
Professor Joyce TaitUniversity of Edinburgh Joyce Tait has an interdisciplinary background in natural and social sciences. Her research covers agrochemical, pharmaceutical and life science industry sectors, particularly: strategic planning for innovation; governance, risk management, regulation and standards; and stakeholder attitudes and influences. The focus has been particularly on genetic modification and synthetic biology, genetic databases, pharmaceuticals, regenerative medicine, stratified and translational medicine and cell therapies. Current projects include: ‘Proportionate and Adaptive Governance of Innovative Technologies’ with the British Standards Institution; BBSRC-funded Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology; EPSRC funded project ‘Implantable Microsystems for Personalised Anti-Cancer Therapy’; and ESRC-funded ‘Regenerative Medicine and its Development and Implementation’. Among current appointments are: UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Synthetic Biology Leadership Council (and Chair of its Governance Subgroup); Scientific Advisory Board, John Innes Centre; Board member, Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre; Board member, Roslin Foundation. |
| 12:10-12:25 |
Ethics and governance of innovation
Professor Sarah Cunningham-BurleyNuffield Council on Bioethics
Professor Sarah Cunningham-BurleyNuffield Council on Bioethics |
| 12:25-12:35 |
Q&A
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Chair
Dr Damian Kelly
Croda
Dr Damian Kelly
Croda
Damian holds a BSc in Chemistry, MSc in Surface Science & Catalysis and a PhD in Tribology from the University of Cambridge. Upon graduation Damian joined the Croda Graduate Development Programme in 2001. Over the past 16 years Damian has held several positions across different Croda markets, divisions and functions including Personal Care Sales Manager for Latin America, Performance Technologies Business Development Manager for North America and Life Sciences Vice President for Europe with both Technical and Commercial responsibility. Damian is presently Head of Global Research & Development for all Croda sectors, based at Croda’s manufacturing site in Widnes, Cheshire. Damian is also the technical lead for Croda’s Technology Investment Group which is responsible for the acquisition and licensing of new technologies that match the needs of all Croda’s end markets.
| 13:35-13:40 |
Introduction to Session 3
Dr Damian KellyCroda
Dr Damian KellyCroda Damian holds a BSc in Chemistry, MSc in Surface Science & Catalysis and a PhD in Tribology from the University of Cambridge. Upon graduation Damian joined the Croda Graduate Development Programme in 2001. Over the past 16 years Damian has held several positions across different Croda markets, divisions and functions including Personal Care Sales Manager for Latin America, Performance Technologies Business Development Manager for North America and Life Sciences Vice President for Europe with both Technical and Commercial responsibility. Damian is presently Head of Global Research & Development for all Croda sectors, based at Croda’s manufacturing site in Widnes, Cheshire. Damian is also the technical lead for Croda’s Technology Investment Group which is responsible for the acquisition and licensing of new technologies that match the needs of all Croda’s end markets. |
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| 13:40-13:55 |
Perspective from academia
Professor Nigel ScruttonUniversity of Manchester
Professor Nigel ScruttonUniversity of Manchester |
| 13:55-14:10 |
Perspective from startup
Dr James FieldLabgenius
Dr James FieldLabgenius |
| 14:10-14:25 |
Perspective from the health industry
Ted Chapman
Ted Chapman |
| 14:25-14:40 |
Perspective from the agriculture industry
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| 14:40-14:55 |
Q&A
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Chair
Dr Christopher Kaminker
BlackRock Investment Institute (BII)
Dr Christopher Kaminker
BlackRock Investment Institute (BII)
Christopher Kaminker, PhD, Managing Director, is Head of the Sustainable Investment Research & Analytics (SIRA) team within the BlackRock Investment Institute (BII). SIRA comprises the BSI Intel, Climate & Sustainability Research and APAC Sustainable Investment Research teams. He is as well, the Deputy Head of Sustainable and Transition Solutions (STS). He is a member of BlackRock's Sustainable and Transition Investment Committee, and EMEA Investments Committee.
Prior to joining BlackRock, Chris was Group Head of Sustainable Investment at Lombard Odier, a Swiss private bank and asset manager. He led a group responsible for sustainable investment research, data science and analytics, product development, portfolio strategy and stewardship. Chris is an energy economist and economic geographer by training, a Visiting Business Fellow at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford University, and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He received his PhD from Oxford University and masters from Columbia University (SIPA).
| 15:25-15:35 |
Introduction to panel
Dr Christopher KaminkerBlackRock Investment Institute (BII)
Dr Christopher KaminkerBlackRock Investment Institute (BII) Christopher Kaminker, PhD, Managing Director, is Head of the Sustainable Investment Research & Analytics (SIRA) team within the BlackRock Investment Institute (BII). SIRA comprises the BSI Intel, Climate & Sustainability Research and APAC Sustainable Investment Research teams. He is as well, the Deputy Head of Sustainable and Transition Solutions (STS). He is a member of BlackRock's Sustainable and Transition Investment Committee, and EMEA Investments Committee. Prior to joining BlackRock, Chris was Group Head of Sustainable Investment at Lombard Odier, a Swiss private bank and asset manager. He led a group responsible for sustainable investment research, data science and analytics, product development, portfolio strategy and stewardship. Chris is an energy economist and economic geographer by training, a Visiting Business Fellow at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford University, and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He received his PhD from Oxford University and masters from Columbia University (SIPA). |
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| 15:35-16:35 |
Panellists
Professor Paul FreemontImperial College London
Professor Paul FreemontImperial College London Professor Paul Freemont is the co-founder of the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation and co-founder and co-director of the National UK Innovation and Knowledge Centre for Synthetic Biology (SynbiCITE - since 2013). His research is focused on developing automation and biofoundries and cell-free systems for specific synthetic biology applications. He is a council member of the US Engineering Biology Research Consortium and co-chair of the newly formed UK Governments Engineering Biology Steering Group and sits on the UK Governments Biosecurity Leadership Council. He is a member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Synthetic Biology and is currently leading a US-funded Task Force on Engineering Biology Metrics and Technical Standards for Global Bioeconomy. He is also co-founder and founding chair of the Global Biofoundry Alliance. He is a passionate advocate for the commercialisation of engineering biology and is co-founder of the Imperial spin-out Solena Materials Ltd developing designer protein fibres and also of SynBioVen Ltd, an early-stage seed investment company for engineering biology start-ups in the UK. 
Dr Angie BurnettAdvanced Research and Invention Agency
Dr Angie BurnettAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Angie is developing an ARIA research programme in the area of Programmable Plants. Angie's background is in plant biology, where her research career has focused on investigating the responses of crop plants to environmental stresses, such as drought and extreme temperature. Angie's research united a range of disciplines including plant physiology, biochemistry and remote sensing to understand what limits plant growth. Angie worked as a Consultant at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Brookhaven National Laboratory in the USA and a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, before joining ARIA in 2023. 
Dr Jason MelladStart Codon
Dr Jason MelladStart Codon Jason is a scientist and entrepreneur, passionate about translating innovative technologies into better patient outcomes. As CEO and Co-Founder of Start Codon, a UK-based accelerator, he aims to discover the most disruptive life science, BioTech and healthcare founders and help them translate their innovations into successful ventures. This is achieved through a combination of seed funding and a bespoke venture-building programme, which taps into the exceptional resources of the Cambridge cluster as well as the global network and knowledge of Jason and the Start Codon team. Previously, he was CEO of Cambridge Epigenetix (now Biomodal) and Business Development Manager for Horizon Discovery’s diagnostics division. He also served as an associate for Cambridge Enterprise, the technology transfer office of the University of Cambridge. Jason had completed his PhD in Medicine at the University of Cambridge and is also a visiting Fellow at Jesus College, Cambridge, and lives in Cambridge with his husband and sons.
Mark RenshawBEIS
Mark RenshawBEIS |
| 16:35-16:45 |
Reflections
Professor Dame Angela McLeanUniversity of Oxford
Professor Dame Angela McLeanUniversity of Oxford Angela McLean is a mathematical biologist at Oxford University where she is a Senior Research Fellow at All Souls College and Professor of Mathematical Biology in the Zoology Department. Her research interests concern understanding how fast infections spread, both within individuals and between individuals. In addition to her own academic work she has played a sustained role in advising government on the use of scientific evidence in making good policies. At the Royal Society she Co-Chairs the Data Community of Interest and Chairs the steering group for the series of public lectures on artificial intelligence, You and AI. |
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| 16:45-16:50 |
Closing remarks
Dr Damian KellyCroda
Dr Damian KellyCroda Damian holds a BSc in Chemistry, MSc in Surface Science & Catalysis and a PhD in Tribology from the University of Cambridge. Upon graduation Damian joined the Croda Graduate Development Programme in 2001. Over the past 16 years Damian has held several positions across different Croda markets, divisions and functions including Personal Care Sales Manager for Latin America, Performance Technologies Business Development Manager for North America and Life Sciences Vice President for Europe with both Technical and Commercial responsibility. Damian is presently Head of Global Research & Development for all Croda sectors, based at Croda’s manufacturing site in Widnes, Cheshire. Damian is also the technical lead for Croda’s Technology Investment Group which is responsible for the acquisition and licensing of new technologies that match the needs of all Croda’s end markets. |
