{"685578":{"#nid":"685578","#data":{"type":"news","title":"ChBE Professor Leads Team Awarded $9.2M NSF Grant to Build \u201cPlug-and-Play\u201d Biotechnology","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EImagine if building new medicines or sustainable materials were as straightforward as snapping together LEGO\u00ae bricks. That\u2019s the goal of a new project led by the Georgia Institute of Technology that could help transform the future of biomanufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project, headed by Professor Mark Styczynski in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE@GT), recently received a $9.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) to accelerate the adoption of cell-free systems in biomanufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPromising Technology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBiotechnology has largely relied on living cells for production of products such as medicines, fragrances, or renewable fuels. But working with living cells can be complex and expensive.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECell-free systems, by contrast, strip biology down to its essential parts, the enzymes and molecules that carry out life\u2019s chemical reactions. This can simplify and speed up biomanufacturing, making it easier to scale.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe challenge, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/styczynski\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStyczynski\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E explained, is that most cell-free projects still require custom-built setups. \u201cRight now, engineering biology is like reinventing the wheel for every application,\u201d he said. \u201cYou have to figure out how all the parts fit together each time. We want to change that by making ready-to-use modules that work right out of the box.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStyczynski\u2019s project, called Meta-PURE (PUrified Recombinant Elements), will create eight standardized modules, each designed for a key function in cell-free systems, such as generating energy, producing proteins, or assembling complex molecules.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cLike interchangeable puzzle pieces, these modules can be mixed and matched to support different applications,\u201d Styczynski said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDemonstrating Uses\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis team will demonstrate the system\u2019s versatility by producing santalene (a plant-derived fragrance used widely in consumer products), GamS protein (a tool that can improve cell-free processes), and a bacteriophage (a virus that can be safely used in research and the development of new therapeutic treatments).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese examples highlight the technology\u2019s potential across industries ranging from pharmaceuticals and agriculture to chemicals and sustainable materials.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe want to make these tools so that someone in industry can create their molecule or product more quickly and efficiently, and get it out the door,\u201d Styczynski said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cRight now, cell-free systems are mostly limited to high-value products because the cost is too high. The goal is to drive costs down and productivity up, so we can move closer to commodity chemicals like biofuels or monomers for polymers, not just niche applications. One of our partners recently developed a butanol process that shows where this can go,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENSF Initiative\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStyczynski\u2019s team is one of four recently awarded an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/tip\/updates\/nsf-invests-more-32m-biotechnology-accelerating-adoption?utm_medium=email\u0026amp;utm_source=govdelivery\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Einaugural investment of $32.4 million\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to help grow the U.S. bioeconomy. The initiative is called the NSF Advancing Cell-Free Systems Toward Increased Range of Use-Inspired Applications (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/funding\/opportunities\/cfire-ideas-lab-advancing-cell-free-systems-toward-increased-range\/506275\/nsf24-552\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENSF CFIRE\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNSF is resolute in our commitment to advancing breakthroughs in biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and other key technologies of significance to the U.S. economy,\u201d said Erwin Gianchandani, assistant director for NSF TIP. \u201cThe novel approaches from these four CFIRE teams will speed up and expand the adoption of cell-free systems across a variety of industries and ensure America\u2019s competitive position in the global bioeconomy.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECollaborative Effort\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile ChBE@GT is the lead, Meta-PURE is a broad collaboration with partners across academia, industry, and government. Co-principal investigators include Paul Opgenorth, co-founder and vice president of development at the biotech firm eXoZymes; Nicholas R. Sandoval, associate professor of Tulane University\u2019s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; and Anton Jackson-Smith, founder of the biotech startup b.next.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeta-PURE will also train graduate students and postdocs in partnership with industry, government, and other universities, helping prepare trainees to be the future of a highly interdisciplinary U.S. bioeconomy. The team will also engage the scientific community on the implementation of metrics and standards in cell-free biotechnology to better facilitate broad adoption and interoperability of not just the results of the Meta-PURE project, but of cell-free efforts more broadly.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EImagine if building new medicines or sustainable materials were as straightforward as snapping together LEGO\u00ae bricks. That\u2019s the goal of a new project led by the Georgia Institute of Technology that could help transform the future of biomanufacturing. The project, headed by Professor Mark Styczynski in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE@GT), recently received a $9.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) to accelerate the adoption of cell-free systems in biomanufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers received a $9.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to accelerate the adoption of cell-free systems in biomanufacturing."}],"uid":"27271","created_gmt":"2025-10-07 18:46:50","changed_gmt":"2025-10-22 15:06:17","author":"Brad Dixon","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-10-07T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-10-07T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678296":{"id":"678296","type":"image","title":"Mark-Styczynski-Alexandra-Patterson-Protein-Biosensor-0279-h.jpg","body":null,"created":"1759862848","gmt_created":"2025-10-07 18:47:28","changed":"1759862848","gmt_changed":"2025-10-07 18:47:28","alt":"Mark Styczynski in lab","file":{"fid":"262305","name":"Mark-Styczynski-Alexandra-Patterson-Protein-Biosensor-0279-h.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/07\/Mark-Styczynski-Alexandra-Patterson-Protein-Biosensor-0279-h.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/07\/Mark-Styczynski-Alexandra-Patterson-Protein-Biosensor-0279-h.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":612548,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/07\/Mark-Styczynski-Alexandra-Patterson-Protein-Biosensor-0279-h.jpg?itok=-U_D2zfs"}}},"media_ids":["678296"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"},{"id":"194685","name":"Manufacturing"}],"keywords":[{"id":"14854","name":"biomanufacturing"},{"id":"194811","name":"cell-free systems"},{"id":"1503","name":"Biotechnology"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBrad Dixon, \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:braddixon@gatech.edu. \u0022\u003Ebraddixon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["braddixon@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}