Prairie Hub to Power the Bioeconomy with Next-generation Bio-inspired Technologies

Rna-based systems, molecular machines, and bio-inspired devices, are the future of the bioeconomy but advancing these technologies from discovery to market can be elusive.

Accelerating scientific discoveries in natural and synthetic biology into deployable products and knowledge requires a collaborative and integrative ecosystem. The success of RNA vaccines demonstrates that we’re in the golden age of mainstreaming synthetic biology and bio-inspired technologies. This achievement was, however, the culmination of decades of research coalescing under the pressure of the pandemic, and notably was brought to bear outside of Canada. This example highlights the collaborative ecosystem needed to advance biotechnologies. An ecosystem that facilitates the interaction of startups, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME), larger industry, academia, and government, and that provides access to the equipment and talent available at universities, is required. To address this urgent need for this type of innovation and discovery network in the Prairies, the University of Manitoba recently launched a hub for the exploration of natural and synthetic biology, Bioexm.

Bioexm — creating a vision for biotechnology in the prairies

Dr. Hans-joachim Wieden, Lead for Biosciences Entrepreneurship and Industry Partnerships, and Dr. Ned Budisa, Canada Research Chair in Chemical Synthetic Biology, were recently recruited to the Faculty of Science at the University of Manitoba (UM) and are leading this hub. We had the opportunity to virtually sit with Drs. Wieden and Budisa for a Q&A to hear more about the future of Bioex and its role in advancing biotechnology.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the launch of Bioexm?

Budisa: Although Canada is now investing in vaccine development and manufacturing, a lack of existing framework for the advancement of vaccines meant we were left behind in the race for the COVID-19 vaccine. Here, we’re taking a more forward-looking approach by building on the critical mass of research expertise existing in the Prairies in synthetic, structural, and digital biology to provide biologically-based solutions to myriad challenges in diverse sectors such as agriculture, energy, and medicine.

Q: What would be the benefit of accessing this new hub?

Budisa: Fundamental and cost barriers limit

the participation of emerging companies and SMES in the R&D enterprise. Effectively, we’re bringing partners together by lowering the access barrier and de-risking participation in research. We're opening the door to partners from all sectors to work together to fast track innovations in synthetic biology and bioengineering through our integrated “Learn, Design, Build, and Test” model.

Q: How do you accelerate scientific discovery into deployable products and knowledge?

Wieden: The "Learn, Design, Build, and Test" model ensures that industry can capitalize on the expertise of the award-winning researchers, technologies, state-of-the-art equipment, and talent found at UM. Within this model, the discovery of natural biological processes will be accelerated by state-of-the-art technologies

and instrumentation. These findings will be interpreted and analyzed (LEARN), which will instruct the (DESIGN) of experiments, technologies, or applications. Further advancement is supported by the capacity to (BUILD) the

necessary component, for example genomes, proteins, and so on, which will be characterized (TEST), enabling successful deployment. As

discoveries and products advance to market, these can be fed back into the cycle and the next phase of analysis, ultimately lowering technology barriers and mainstreaming access

to emerging bio-inspired technologies.

Q: Why a discovery acceleration hub at an educational institution?

Wieden: How can you grow an emerging technology without a pool of well-trained potential

employees? The UM is a research powerhouse with particular strength in emerging sectors of the molecular life sciences such as Rnabased technologies, synthetic biology, and

bioengineering. Students here are trained in these emerging transdisciplinary areas. As

we move forward, we envision a maker space where entrepreneurial students, SMES, and

startups can develop their ideas and tap into cutting-edge research. Why couldn’t the next killer-app be bio-engineered here in Manitoba?

Q: What is the takeaway message?

Wieden: We’re open for business and we're inviting partners across all sectors to come

"Learn, Design, Build, and Test" with us.