2023 iGEM Program at the University of Virginia

该项目将支持弗吉尼亚大学不同STEM学科的本科生团队的努力。该团队将为合成生物学国际基因工程机器(IGEM)竞赛开发一种低成本、非侵入性、有效的葡萄球菌性蜂窝组织炎局部治疗方法。该设备的开发和生产将为本科生提供多个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合成生物学领域内的学生主导的创业并为其创造机会来支持生物经济。此外，学生学员将获得有关创新、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取新技术的结构性障碍。扩大对STEM研究的参与是该项目的一个重要目标。该项目支持弗吉尼亚大学不同学科的本科生团队进行跨学科研究培训。该团队将开发针对葡萄球菌的皮肤穿透性抗菌肽，并有可能规模化生产。该项目将为合成生物学领域的国际基因工程机器(IGEM)竞赛而开发。参与者将接受各种STEM学科的培训，获得创新和战略路线图的全球视角，并有许多机会与合成生物学、分子生物学和计算建模等STEM领域的领导者建立网络。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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.