Menu
Close
Sign up for NPL updates
Close
Sign up for NPL updates

For people, place, prosperity and planet, we deliver impact with measurement science

Engineering biology

UK reference biofoundry for test, evaluation and standards in engineering biology

NPL’s reference biofoundry: advancing engineering biology solutions and technologies through measurement science and standards

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.

Contact us

Inside NPL’s Reference Biofoundry

Creating a toolbox of reference materials and methods to drive translation in EngBio

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.

Virtual institute

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.

Building a measurement framework to underpin growth in engineering biology

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.

Si-traceable reference standards to support EngBio innovation

Nanoscale and cell rulers

Contact us

Our research and measurement solutions support innovation and product development. We work with companies to deliver business advantage and commercial success.
Contact our Customer Services team on +44 20 8943 7070