Synthetic Biology

Overview

Synthetic Biology is one of the newest and most dynamic research focus areas in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering. This interdisciplinary field harnesses the natural capabilities of living cells—such as sensing, responding, and adapting to their environment—and reprograms them to perform novel or enhanced functions.

Our researchers integrate biological and engineering principles to design genetic tools that enable cells to store, retrieve, and process information. By repurposing biological pathways, they engineer customized cellular behaviors using switches, synthetic receptors, and Boolean logic systems. These innovations are driving breakthroughs in understanding biological mechanisms and developing transformative applications in sustainability, agriculture, and therapeutics.

At the Coulter Department, synthetic biology is paving the way for personalized and predictive healthcare, offering new possibilities for how we diagnose, treat, and prevent disease.

Research Focus

Our interdisciplinary work in synthetic biology includes:  

• Engineering Genetic Circuits: Designing DNA-based systems to control cellular behavior
• Programmable Cells: Creating cells that detect disease and produce therapeutic responses
• Living Therapeutics: Developing bacteria and immune cells that target and treat disease
• Synthetic Biomaterials: Producing self-assembling materials with biological functions
• Biosensors and Diagnostics: Engineering cells and molecules to sense and report on disease markers
• Cell-Free Synthetic Biology: Building biological systems outside of living organisms for rapid prototyping
• Biocomputation: Using biological molecules for computation and decision-making processes

Application Areas

• Cancer Detection and Therapy: Engineered cells that identify and attack tumors
• Infectious Disease Control: Biosensors and living vaccines for emerging pathogens
• Regenerative Medicine: Programmable materials for tissue repair and regeneration
• Biomanufacturing: Sustainable production of biologics, enzymes, and materials
• Microbiome Engineering: Modulating microbial communities for health benefits