Exploiting nature’s building blocks to create a new generation of bioinspired technologies

RESEARCH VISION

Living cells are the most sophisticated machines we know of. We are learning to build them ourselves. Instead of modifying existing organisms, we assemble the molecular building blocks of life (lipid membranes, proteins, nucleic acids and biomolecular machinery) into entirely new, cell-like systems. Because we construct them from scratch, we can program and control them in ways that aren’t possible with living cells, and design them to carry out specific tasks. Our research spans three connected areas: synthetic cells, lipid nanoparticles, and the microfluidic + automation technologies that let us build and test these systems at scale. Together, they allow us to probe the fundamental principles that govern living matter while developing new technologies for medicine, biotechnology and beyond.

MISSION

Our aim is to be a world-leading laboratory tackling ambitious questions where chemistry, engineering and biology meet. We value blue-skies and applied research equally, believing that curiosity-led discovery can ultimately deliver lasting benefit to society. Just as importantly, we support every member of our team to reach their full potential, developing into independent, ambitious scientists who are confident working across disciplines.

VALUES

We believe that science is an open, collaborative, and fun enterprise, and we run the group with this in mind. Our guiding vision is that everyone has their voice heard and feels valued.

ETHOS

We aim to create an inclusive, diverse, and vibrant environment where people feel stimulated, respected, and supported. We recognise that people have their own strengths, and we aim to play to these. Great science is a bottom-up endeavour, and we encourage team members to embrace a spirit of exploration in their research. We aim to give our team members the tools, training, resources and confidence to be able to express their scientific curiosity

STRIVING FOR IMPACT

We are exploring the use of bioinspired machines in drug delivery, vaccines, biosensing, diagnostics, synthetic cell therapies, drug discovery and pharmacokinetic screens. We use synthetic cells as models to help us unravel the rules of life: understanding biology by building a new biology. Blurring the boundaries between living and non-living matter allows us to engineer microsystems that generate their own energy, self-repair, make decisions, communicate and respond to their environment. Achieving this paves the way for applications relating to the most pressing societal and industrial challenges.