Research

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Synthetic Biology underpins advances in the bioeconomy

Biological systems - including the simplest cells - exhibit a broad range of functions to thrive in their environment. Research in the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology is focused on the possibility of engineering the underlying biochemical processes to solve many of the challenges facing society, from healthcare to sustainable energy. In particular, we model, analyse, design and build biological and biochemical systems in living cells and/or in cell extracts, both exploring and enhancing the engineering potential of biology. 

As part of our research we develop novel methods to accelerate the celebrated Design-Build-Test-Learn synthetic biology cycle. As such research in the Centre for Synthetic Biology highly multi- and interdisciplinary covering computational modelling and machine learning approaches; automated platform development and genetic circuit engineering ; multi-cellular and multi-organismal interactions, including gene drive and genome engineering; metabolic engineering; in vitro/cell-free synthetic biology; engineered phages and directed evolution; and biomimetics, biomaterials and biological engineering.

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Critchley:2018:10.3389/fphys.2018.00559,
author = {Critchley, B and Isalan, M and Mielcarek, M},
doi = {10.3389/fphys.2018.00559},
journal = {Frontiers in Physiology},
title = {Neuro-Cardio mechanisms in Huntington’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00559},
volume = {9},
year = {2018}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Although Huntington’s disease is generally considered to be aneurological disorder, there is mounting evidence that heart malfunction plays an important role in disease progression. This is perhaps not  unexpected  since both cardiovascular  and  nervous  systems  are strongly connected—both development ally and subsequently inhealth  and disease. This connection occurs through  a systemof  central  and  peripheral  neurons  that  control  cardiovascular performance, while  in  return  the  cardiovascular  system worksas  a  sensor  for the nervous system to react  to physiological events. Hence, given  their  permanent  interconnectivity, any pathological  events  occurring  in  one  system  might  affect  the  second.  In  addition,  some pathological signals  fromHuntington’s  disease might  occur  simultaneously  in  both the cardiovascular  and  nervous  systems, since mutant Huntingtin protein  is  expressedin  both. Here we aim to review the  source  of  HD-related  cardiomyopathy  in the light  of  recently-published studies, and to identify similarities between HD-related cardiomyopathy andother neuro-cardio disorders.
AU  - Critchley,B
AU  - Isalan,M
AU  - Mielcarek,M
DO  - 10.3389/fphys.2018.00559
PY  - 2018///
SN  - 1664-042X
TI  - Neuro-Cardio mechanisms in Huntington’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders
T2  - Frontiers in Physiology
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00559
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/59337
VL  - 9
ER  -
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