Synthetic Biology for Technology Development

Synthetic biology, the design and wholesale construction of new biological parts and systems and the re-design of existing, natural biological systems for tailored purposes, has applications in biomaterials, drug and gene delivery systems and devices, mathematical modeling, simulation and analysis, medical implants, sensors, and tissue engineering. This program may include, for example, the use of synthetic biology approaches for the development of signal-sensing biomaterials; genetic switches for the control of gene delivery; synthetically engineered viruses and bacteriophages as therapies; synthetic circuits for gene therapy; synthetic control of biosensors through environmentally responsive promoters; and synthetic control systems for the production of biomaterials.