Automated Biobanking for DoD-relevant Biorepository for Synthetic Biology and Microbial Culturomics
Abstract
The study of the microbiome and efforts to bioprospect to build systematic microbiome biobanks and engineer them is of critical importance to the Department of Defense (DoD) and its mission. Understanding the diverse microbial communities can lead to the development of innovative technologies and materials with applications in defense, such as self-healing structures, bioengineered camouflage, and environmentally friendly biofuels. Moreover, the microbiome plays a crucial role in human health, and by unraveling its complexities, the DoD can develop novel strategies to enhance the resilience and performance of military personnel in extreme environments. In order to capture these opportunities, we need to bioprospect from various DoD-relevant settings to build biological biobanks that can provide a valuable repository of microbial resources for the rapid identification of potential biothreats and the development of countermeasures and to build genetic chassis for next-generation synthetic biology to ultimately enable new capabilities and strengthen national security. Harnessing the power of the microbiome could also revolutionize the way we approach environmental remediation, enabling the DoD to mitigate the impact of military activities on ecosystems and biodiversity. Towards these goals, we recently developed an automated microbial isolation system that leverages AI-enabled machine vision with high-throughput genomics that enable rapid isolation of microbial strains from different settings. However, a core missing technology gap is a way for high-throughput sample handling and inventory for long-term biobank management. Here, we propose to acquire an automated -80C freezer system for controlled highdensity sample management and storage that will significantly enhance the generation of DoD relevant synthetic biology and microbiome biobanks and assets. This request is made as a part of the synergistic efforts of two core program initiatives at the Army Research Centers in Synthetic Biology: The Center for Predictive Materials Design (PreMaDe) led by Dr. Michael Jewett at Northwestern and The Center for Harnessing Microbiota from Military Environments (CHARMME) led by Dr. Christopher Voigt at MIT.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 09, 2023
- Source ID
- W911NF2310335
Entities
People
- Harris H. Wang
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Columbia University
- United States Army