Built on NPL’s expertise as the UK’s National Metrology Institute, NPL’s reference biofoundry is designed to accelerate the development and adoption of engineering biology (EngBio) through world-leading measurement science and best practice at every stage of innovation.
As engineering biology progresses from concept to commercialisation, the need for reproducibility, quality control and standardisation is critical element in driving successful scale up. NPL’s Biofoundry addresses this need by enabling high-throughput biological design and prototyping, providing the standards, reference materials and analytical methods necessary to support reliable data and improved commercialisation success.
The Biofoundry complements the UK’s broader EngBio ecosystem of academic and commercial biofoundries, focusing on the measurement challenges underpinning reliable and scalable synthetic biology. It provides foundational infrastructure to support early-stage innovators, SMEs and industry partners in translating lab-scale EngBio into reproducible manufacturing processes.
NPL’s Biofoundry facilitates the rapid, automated design-build-test-learn (DBTL) cycle at scale.
These tools allow NPL to be a flexible experimental testbed and a standards development platform. NPL is uniquely equipped to help define the quality infrastructure required for engineering biology to scale with confidence. Key equipment includes:
Enables the synthesis of large DNA synthesis using Gibson Assembly, supporting rapid prototyping and genetic circuit development.
Allows high-throughput, template-free synthesis of oligonucleotides, streamlining design iteration and supporting parallel experimentation.
A fully integrated automation platform designed to scale and standardise engineering biology processes. It enables complex and reproducible workflows and hands-free processing.
High-resolution mass spectrometry system optimised for DNA analysis, offering exceptional sensitivity and bio-inertness for accurate, traceable measurement.
Additional sample handling equipment: A suite of high-precision handling systems and workflow components supporting sample preparation, DNA assembly, and process automation.
There are many variables to consider in engineering biology processes. Referencing processes and inputs to to agreed standards to helps provide confidence in manufacturing consistency and the ability to measure and control key performance parameters. These are key attributes in deciding which products and processes are adopted and commercialised.
NPL’s engineering biology research and development programmes are addressing specific measurement challenges faced by industry. We are developing a toolbox of reference materials and methods, calibrants, cells, documented standards and best-practice guides.
Initial investment through The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund enabled the development of a virtual institute established by NPL and partners. This included other National Measurement System organisations, LGC and National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, along with SynbiCITE at Imperial College London.
In response to the metrology challenges presented by engineering biology, NPL are establishing a measurement framework for engineering biology to support a bottom-up approach to control bio-manufacturing processes, both in-cellulo (intracellular) and in-vitro (cell-free). A framework approach, built upon the principles of modularisation which defines biological parts as molecular units of biological activity that can be more effectively and repeatably delivered enables assembly into systems or devices. Modularisation applies across all scales of engineering biology including nucleic acids, cells, cell-free systems and protein assemblies. Each of these can serve as a functional component or product within an engineering biology process requiring improved standardisation.
Engineering biology (EngBio) has the potential to revolutionise how we diagnose, manage and treat disease, how we feed a growing population and how we interact with the planet in a more sustainable way.
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