Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	EP/L016494/1
Title:	EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Synthetic Biology
Principal Investigator:	Papachristodoulou, Professor A
Other Investigators:	Armitage, Professor J Woolfson, Professor DN Bates, Professor D Grierson, Professor CS Soyer, Professor O Turberfield, Professor AJ
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	California Institute of Technology Crysalin Ltd Defence Science & Tech Lab DSTL DNA2.0 Limited GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) Harvard University Integrated DNA Technologies Massachusetts Institute of Technology Microsoft New England Biolabs (UK) Ltd Northwestern University Procter & Gamble Shell Sigma-Aldrich Group Software Sustainability Institute Syngenta Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum University of California, San Diego We The Curious Limited
Department:	Synthetic Biology DTC
Organisation:	University of Oxford
Scheme:	Centre for Doctoral Training
Starts:	01 April 2014	Ends:	30 September 2022	Value (£):	4,798,062
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Synthetic biology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:	Panel Date Panel Name Outcome 23 Oct 2013 EPSRC CDT 2013 Interviews Panel B Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
The Synthetic Biology CDT (SBCDT) will focus on the design and engineering of biologically based parts, novel devices and systems as well as the re-design of existing, natural biological systems across all scales from molecules to organisms. Its distinguishing feature will be breadth and depth: the SBCDT will build on the multi-disciplinary expertise offered by the research environment at the Universities of Oxford, Bristol and Warwick to provide training that covers all parts of this extremely broad remit, including not only individual cells but self-assembled biomimetic systems, engineered microbial communities and multicellular organisms, combining the multiple perspectives of engineering and the life and physical sciences. We believe that such coverage is vital in the emerging area of Synthetic Biology; but, equally, this is only currently possible through a collaborative effort across institutions such as ours. In close partnership with our industrial and other partners, with whom we have developed this bid, we will address the recommendation of the recently published Synthetic Biology Roadmap for a "skilled, energized and well-funded UK-wide Synthetic Biology community", which has "the opportunity to revolutionise major industries in bio-energy and bio-technology in the UK" (David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science). The SBCDT will provide five annual 15-student strong cohorts with high-quality and highly practical training in Synthetic Biology that will fill this skills gap and deliver the next generation of internationally excellent researchers and industrial leaders. The training will be based on a varied and innovative programme that will range from classes and seminars to student-led group projects and exploratory and PhD research projects at the forefront of the development of Synthetic Biology. Ethical, Legal and Social considerations, public engagement, and the needs of industrial, academic and potential end users of Synthetic Biology will be integrated into the training programme from the start. We will engender within the cohort a sophisticated, multi-faceted appreciation of the opportunities and potential hazards of Synthetic Biology that is essential to Responsible Innovation. Training will be delivered by a team of world-leading researchers which, like the student intake, will be highly multidisciplinary. We will ensure that the SBCDT takes full advantage of the opportunities provided by the three Universities and will act as a catalyst for inter-university research initiatives underpinned by the unifying influence of a cohesive cohort of students. This will ensure development of Synthetic Biology across the UK and that the UK strengthens its global competitiveness in this very promising field.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher
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Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.ox.ac.uk