2023 iGEM Program at the University of Virginia

该项目将支持来自弗吉尼亚大学各个STEM学科的本科生团队的努力。该团队将为国际遗传工程机器（iGEM）合成生物学竞赛开发一种低成本，非侵入性，有效的局部治疗葡萄球菌蜂窝织炎的方法。该设备的开发和生产将为本科生提供各种科学领域的实践培训，包括合成生物学，分子生物学和计算建模。该项目通过向学生介绍并为合成生物学领域内的学生驱动的创业创造机会来支持生物经济。 此外，学生参与者获得创新，战略路线图和专业社区的全球视角，同时认识到公平资源共享和获得新技术的结构性障碍。 扩大STEM研究的参与是本项目的重要目标。本项目支持弗吉尼亚大学多样化本科生团队的跨学科研究培训。该团队将开发皮肤渗透性抗菌肽，这些肽对葡萄球菌具有特异性，并且有可能大规模生产。该项目将为国际遗传工程机器（iGEM）合成生物学竞赛开发。参与者将接受各种STEM学科的培训，获得关于创新和战略路线图的全球视角，并有很多机会与合成生物学，分子生物学和计算建模等STEM领域的领导者建立联系。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

This project will support the efforts of a team of undergraduate students from various STEM disciplines at the University of Virginia. The team will develop a low cost, non-invasive, effective topical treatment for Staphylococcus-based cellulitis for the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition in synthetic biology. The development and production of this device will provide undergraduate students with hands-on training in a variety of scientific areas, including synthetic biology, molecular biology and computational modeling. The project supports the bioeconomy by introducing students to and creating an opportunity for student-driven entrepreneurship within the field of synthetic biology. In addition, student participants acquire a global perspective on innovation, strategic road mapping, and professional community, while recognizing structural barriers to fair resource sharing and access to new technologies. Broadening participation in STEM research is an important goal of this project.This project supports the interdisciplinary research training of a diverse team of undergraduate students at the University of Virginia. The team will develop skin-penetrating anti-microbial peptides that are specific for Staphylococcus and that have the potential to be produced at scale. The project will be developed for the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition in synthetic biology. The participants will receive training in a variety of STEM disciplines, acquire a global perspective on innovation and strategic road mapping, and have many opportunities to network with leaders in STEM fields such as synthetic biology, molecular biology and computational modeling.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.