Research Support for iGEM Program at the University of Virginia

弗吉尼亚大学 iGEM 项目的研究支持

• 批准号: 2011652
• 负责人: Keith Kozminski
• 金额: $ 2.68万
• 依托单位: University of Virginia Main Campus
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-09-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2011652&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Research; Support; iGEM; Program; University

The goals of this project are to use the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition, a global undergraduate research activity at the interface of biological sciences and synthetic biology, as a tool to recruit and retain diverse students in STEM and give them meaningful research experiences through participation in the University of Virginia iGEM team. Participation in the iGEM competition enables and broadens undergraduate participation in synthetic biology research at the University of Virginia, enhancing access for women and individuals under-represented in STEM. The project develops an inter-disciplinary STEM workforce from a diverse cohort of science and engineering students by providing an opportunity for cross-discipline communication and problem solving. The project also supports the bio-economy by introducing students to and creating an opportunity for student-driven entrepreneurship within the field of synthetic biology. The University of Virginia iGEM team has a long and successful of engaging students projects in the field of synthetic biology. The current project concerns the use of synthetic biology for the commercial production of various pharmaceuticals, reagents, and other organic compounds. A major impediment in such commercial productions is the lack of a versatile, reliable, and efficient method to increase the flow of molecules through specific biochemical pathways within a cell. This problem is addressed in this project with the use of the biosynthesis of resveratrol as an experimental model. Specifically, mathematical modeling combined with existing knowledge of molecular structures is being used to design small artificial compartments within bacteria that serve as a foundry for resveratrol biosynthesis. Once designed, the compartments are assembled in cells, through the regulated expression of synthetic genes, and tested for efficiency, reliability, and versatility. The project builds basic research into a foundational technology to expand the applications of synthetic biology, especially in the area of bio-manufacturing.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该项目的目标是利用国际遗传工程机器（iGEM）竞赛，在生物科学和合成生物学的接口的全球本科生研究活动，作为一种工具，招募和留住不同的学生在干，并通过参与弗吉尼亚大学iGEM团队给他们有意义的研究经验。参加iGEM竞赛可以扩大本科生在弗吉尼亚大学合成生物学研究中的参与，提高妇女和在STEM中代表性不足的个人的机会。 该项目通过提供跨学科沟通和解决问题的机会，从不同的科学和工程学生群体中培养跨学科的STEM员工队伍。该项目还通过向学生介绍并为合成生物学领域内的学生创业创造机会来支持生物经济。 弗吉尼亚大学iGEM团队在合成生物学领域有着长期而成功的吸引学生的项目。目前的项目涉及合成生物学用于各种药物，试剂和其他有机化合物的商业生产。这种商业化生产的主要障碍是缺乏通用、可靠和有效的方法来增加分子通过细胞内特定生化途径的流动。 这个问题是解决在这个项目中使用的白藜芦醇的生物合成作为实验模型。具体来说，数学建模结合现有的分子结构知识被用来设计细菌内的小人工隔间，作为白藜芦醇生物合成的铸造厂。一旦设计完成，隔室就通过合成基因的调节表达在细胞中组装，并测试其效率、可靠性和多功能性。该项目将基础研究打造成扩大合成生物学应用的基础技术，特别是在生物制造领域。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。