Schedule

Academic research labs are known for discovering fundamental science and major breakthroughs (CRISPR, anyone?). But as biology becomes more complex—and more expensive—academic labs often can't access the most cutting-edge tools. Can decentralized science unite researchers with commercial wet labs to accelerate fundamental science? How would such a collaboration work and what new stakeholders could benefit?

Remaking our world with sustainable biomanufacturing is no mean feat. We will need the support of private stakeholders, investors, innovators, and, critically, governments. Join us for an uplifting conversation between national governments and political parties about the structures and reforms needed to achieve biomanufacturing at scale. Hear from elected lawmakers about their vision for the future, policies in development, and the opportunities the synthetic biology community has to inform and shape tomorrow’s global bioeconomy.

In this fireside chat Laura Deming, Partner at the Longevity Fund, and Alfredo Andere CEO of Latch Bio, will discuss how Silicon Valley's pursuit of digitizing biology is transforming the bioeconomy and providing opportunities for groundbreaking innovations in health and longevity. Deming will share her insights on the latest advancements in the field, the potential for new therapies, and how such technological advancements could lead to the possibility of extending human lifespans.

Synthetic biology can be an immensely powerful tool for off-world living. From food to medicines to habitat maintenance, biology could sustain us long-term on orbit or on other worlds. But we are still a long way from achieving this vision. As the first commercial space stations take flight, what role will biology play in off-world habitation? What could we learn from experiments in microgravity that can drive innovation and sustainability on Earth?

Funding and intellectual property are inextricably linked - without IP, it's very difficult to get funding and without funding, IP can't drive revenue and growth. But the IP landscape can also make it very challenging for new players to enter a given space, even if an established IP is gathering dust on a shelf. Could innovations like blockchain empower a wider range of investors to participate in R&D or even free up old IP? Could discovery consortiums share IP more equitably, thus driving more open scientific collaboration? Though we're in the midst of a crypto winter, as a currency type, could the fundamental architecture of blockchain drive novel investment for science instead?

Microbial communities are the underappreciated drivers of all life on earth. From the soil to our skin, microbiomes shape how we respond to the world - and how the world responds to us. But, as with so much in our world, these microbial communities are out of balance, and restoring and improving their natural function looks to play a critical role in the future of human health. What new insights into microbiome science are driving innovation? What new products are coming to market and what challenges does the microbiome industry still need to overcome?

Antibiotics are one of the greatest medical discoveries in human history. Antibiotics completely transformed our life-spans and quality of life. But the rise of antibiotic resistant pathogens threatens our global population, potentially bringing us back to a time when a simple cut became a killer. What can synthetic biology do to address this growing crisis? How can we develop new antibiotics? How can we reduce our overall use of antibiotics with new tools so current drugs remains effective for longer?

Cell and gene therapies are powerful technologies that can address the root causes of disease. But, today, only liquid cancers and a very small number of genetic illnesses can be addressed. These therapies are also far too expensive and difficult to manufacture. As a result, these therapies are used as last-resort options rather than first-line treatments. What will it take to make cell and gene therapies more precise and more cost-effective? Is it better to take an allogeneic or autologous approach? How will the regulatory landscape need to adapt for these therapies and can we expect to see in the next 3-5 years?

Cultured meat seems very close to market but scale and regulatory hurdles are still significant roadblocks. The regulatory path is somewhat out of our hands but what can we do as an industry to address scale? What technical challenges do we still need to overcome? Can we collaborate without damaging our IP? And, of course, how can we continue refining the message of cultured meat in a way that doesn't frighten off consumers?

Partnerships are the foundation of success, especially in synbio. While synbio companies are disrupting the foundational materials that make our world, big brands are usually responsible for delivering that innovation into the hands of consumers. How have some of the biggest partnerships between synbio and internationally recognized brands been accomplished? What impact have they had and what comes next? Join this inspiring session for insights into success, scale-up strategies, overcoming the biggest challenges in bringing the synbio promise to life.

Due to a reliance on agricultural-based starting materials and active ingredients, the pharmaceutical industry has long struggled with disruptions from climate crises, pests and disease, global transportation logistics, and geopolitical events. These types of disruptions regularly trigger shortages of essential medicines, which ultimately has implications for patients in need. Synthetic biology is poised to help the pharmaceutical industry overcome its current supply chain challenges and limitations to produce active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and key starting materials (KSMs) in a more efficient, reliable, and consistent approach. Join this breakout session to hear from a panel of experts from across the pharmaceutical supply chain about the scope of the current challenge the industry faces and how synthetic biology is bringing forth solutions that are ready to scale now.

Synthetic biology has the potential to drive tremendous, positive change across our world. One of the most promising areas of synbio disruption is the fashion industry. Today, fast fashion harms developing economies with low wages, exploitative labor practices, and environmental toxins. Synbio can offer novel, safer materials that empower communities while delivering price-competitive, sustainable products. But what will it take to achieve this kind of synbio impact? What technologies, policies, and collaborations are needed? What regions are already seeing benefits and what other sectors are ready for synbio disruption?

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) that allow computers to learn from experience has emerged as a potentially powerful tool to address the challenge of performing synthetic biology in a quantitative and predictive manner. So what does the future of AI look like, and how will it change what we can build with biology?"

If we successfully scale the bioeconomy, more feedstock availability will be needed to meet its demand. Additionally, feedstock agnostic technologies are adaptable to different geographic regions, reuse waste carbon, increase production efficiency, avoid deforestation and competition for land for food, and attend local economic and social needs. In this scenario, utilizing carbon dioxide and methane for feedstocks can create powerful circular economies, limit new emissions, and even help remove existing greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere. But what will it take to scale gas fermentation? How should start-ups and aspiring founders think about leveraging gas fermentation? What products are better suited to gas fermentation vs traditional fermentation?