Team:UCL London

UCL’s Biochemical engineering department has been at the forefront of biopharmaceutical manufacture for years. Extraordinary advances in the life sciences have great potential to improve our quality of life through better medicines and a cleaner environment.Our project aims to create “independent” cells, capable of self-induction into the production phase, without the introduction of any chemical into the closed system. By exploiting genetically modified E.coli to respond to hypoxia, we eliminate the need of IPTG induction. The functioning genetic circuit would be signalled by the production of a fluorescent red dye. Replacing the red dye gene with pharmaceutical protein promises higher yields and more consistent batches which is a step closer to providing cheaper healthcare to everyone. .

This is UCL's second year running and once again spearheading the project is the Biochemical Engineering department, collaborating with both the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Departments.