Funding Awarded to Build on Existing WISB Partnerships with São Paulo, Brazil

Funding announced today (27th July 2015) by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) will enable WISB researchers to develop existing collaborations with the Biomass Systems and Synthetic Biology (BSSB) center in Brazil. The funding will facilitate research exchanges between the two centres over the next 2 years. The project is one of 21 to receive funding under the FAPESP Sao Paulo Researchers in International Collaboration funding call.

Major Research Funding Award for WISB from BBSRC/EPSRC

In January 2015, Vince Cable, the Secretary for Business, Innovation and Skills announced a five-year £12 million grant funding award for researchers at the Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology centre (WISB). This investment comes from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

“We are delighted to receive this strategically important UK Synthetic Biology Centre Award. Synthetic biology has huge potential to generate valuable processes and products for biotechnology and medicine, as well as new understanding of the fundamental principles that underpin living systems. WISB is building a globally recognized presence as a centre of excellence in research and training in Synthetic Biology, and this grant from BBSRC and EPSRC will help us enormously in achieving our goals.” John McCarthy, WISB Director

Photo: Left to Right - Professor Jamie Davies, SynthSys Edinburgh; Professor John McCarthy, WISB; Rt. Hon. Dr Vince Cable, Secretary for Business, Innovation and Skills; Professor Nigel Scrutton, SYNBIOCHEM Manchester.

Video Clip: What is Synthetic Biology?

WISB Co-Directors, Orkun Soyer and Declan Bates, talk about synthetic biology and it's potential to be a significant driver for UK business. This short film was commissioned by the venture capital fund Rainbow Seed Fund.

WISB is part of the UK's first and only synthetic biology centre for PhD training.

Funded by the EPSRC and BBSRC, the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Synthetic Biology is a 4-year doctoral programme that offers training in Synthetic Biology, the "Engineering of Biology". This centre is a collaboration between the Universities of Oxford, Bristol and Warwick. For applications and more details please visit the SynBio CDT website

PhD Studentships & WISB Careers

Enquiries regarding PhD places and the Synthetic Biology Centre for Doctoral Training should be sent to synbioCDT at warwick dot ac dot uk Any other queries related to WISB should be sent to wisb at warwick dot ac dot uk