Luke Bateman
Team Leader
Special Mentions
Website Development, MFP Applications Research, Proposed Implementation and Promotional Video Design
Luke Bateman was this year’s Team Leader alongside Alya Masoud. After taking on the role, Luke began to raise awareness of the iGEM competition across multiple disciplines across King’s College London, designing and conducting an interview process, media campaign and constructing the team. In the early stages of the project, Luke was heavily involved in the Mussel Foot Protein subgroup, where he provided foundations to the new team about Mussel Foot Protein adhesive chemistry and planned a new direction for phase II alongside Harshraj Bumia, as well providing directionality for research for the project as a whole. Outside of his role here, he contributed to the management of the development of the project, completing administrative tasks and piecing together an environment encouraging teamwork, communication and respect. Luke provided a great contribution to the design of the promotional video, directing the design team in the creation of vectors and animations, as well as providing an abundance of vectors using Adobe Illustrator. In addition, Luke was responsible for the construction and completion of the team wiki, providing the foundations required for the development of the website, as well as hosting workshops detailing general coding knowledge and practice, resources to learn, and navigation of the iGEM wiki to the team. Furthermore, he was responsible for the creation of the menu bar. Finally, Luke secured the team with residence for the summer under the kind donation of King’s Residences.
Team Members
Aditya Shirode
Co-Head of Entrepreneurship, Head of Education
Special Mentions
MFP-PCL Binding, Scaffold Design Research and Financial & Market Analysis Research
Aditya was a primary member of the Bioprinting Subgroup, he carried out extensive literature reviews on the pore shape and design, the optimal printing parameters required for the scaffold and the possible inclusion of a drug delivery system. Aditya also acted as a bridge between the Bioprinting and MFP Subgroups in which he developed a visualisation of the binding between PCL and MFP on PyMol alongside Milan Singh, in order to validate whether they would bind in-vitro and in-vivo. Using this work, he estimated the amount of MFP required to bind to the PCL scaffold in order to ascertain the cost-effectiveness of our adhesive. Furthermore, he spearheaded the educational outreach programmes for Biologix. Firstly, by participating in the human practices with the Widening participation team at KCL in order to discuss and refine the structure of the competition. Secondly, by attending the project planning workshops given by KCLSU and using the information to organise lectures in liaison with other iGEM teams. Aditya also crucially advanced the entrepreneurship segment of the project. Specifically, he contributed to the business plan by conducting an analysis of the costs required for the therapy and assessing the financial projections. As well as this, Aditya helped in constructing and presenting our pitch deck to relevant stakeholders.
Akashdeep Kundal
SCI Biochemistry Member
Special Mentions
SCI Biochemistry, Science Communication, Educational Outreach, Market and Competitors Analysis
Akashdeep was a primary member of the SCI Subgroup. Here, she conducted literature research investigating the characteristics of the thoracic and cervical regions of the spinal cord and the subsequent effects of SCI on these regions. Additionally, she researched into atrophy following SCI and helped develop a timeline of progression for our treatment. Akashdeep also contributed to our science communication and educational outreach, by developing a Synthetic Biology textbook and creating social media posts for SCI awareness month. In addition, she was involved in the development of the promotional video script and assisted with the entrepreneurial aspects of the project by conducting an in-depth competitor analysis to provide an insight into the SCI treatment market.
Alia Nathoo
Head of Design
Special Mention
MFP Applications Research, Wet Lab, Oxidative Research and Promotional Video Design
Alia was a primary member of the Mussel Foot Protein (MFP) Subgroup, as well as playing a key role in the design team for Renervate Therapeutics. Alia conducted extensive research and literature reviews into PVFP-5, specifically relating to its chemistry and identifying methods in reducing its auto-oxidative nature in the lab. She also engaged in human practices meetings to discuss the binding of PVFP-5 with PCL, to ensure the functional success of our protein in combination with the scaffold. Furthermore, Alia worked in the lab to validate Phase I research by expressing PVFP-5 in E. coli and helped research and write purification protocols. As part of the design team, Alia assisted in designing our logo alongside Sichun Yao, as well as being a storyboard artist for the promotional video and creating vectors for both the presentation video and team wiki. Alia was also involved in scriptwriting and recording of the presentation video, as well as collaborations with other iGEM teams, including participating in a podcast recorded with the Manchester iGEM team. Finally, Alia facilitated in refining the engineering cycles for all three aspects of our project.
Sichun (Angela) Yao
Co-Head of SCI Biochemistry Subgroup
Special Mention
SCI Biochemical Cascades, Competitor Analysis and Design
Angela was a core member of the spinal cord injury (SCI) Subgroup. She conducted extensive literature reviews in the inhibitory microenvironment of the SCI lesion, where she investigated the axonal growth limiting interactions between PTPsigma and ECM molecules (CSPGs) and characterised axonal growth relative to ChABC. Alongside Kate Flanagan, she helped to develop a CSPG guide for educational outreach. In addition, she completed research on combinatorial approaches using ChABC for the treatment of SCI and identified other potential uses of ChABC in the field of regenerative medicine. Angela also participated in human practices, where she approached researchers and biotechnology start-ups for entrepreneurship. She contributed to the business plan and helped design our pitch deck presentation. Angela was also involved in science communication, where she wrote an article on neurodegeneration in SCI and helped develop SCI awareness media campaigns. Furthermore, she completed narrations and translations of the promotional video and as part of the design team, she helped design our project logo alongside Alia Nathoo. Lastly, Angela participated in coding, structuring and designing the team wiki.
Beatriz Laureano
Head of Website Development
Special Mention
SCI Project Design and Rehabilitation Research, Supply Chain Research, Animation and Coding
Beatriz was a primary member of the SCI Subgroup, where she was responsible for developing rehabilitation protocols, assessing the role of atrophy and the possibility of a Foreign Body reaction in our therapy. She worked towards refining our project design and collating our research related to SCI Biochemistry. In addition, Beatriz researched into ChABC combinatorial treatment options, imaging modalities and non-invasive methods to assess the success of our therapy. She also participated in science communication, where she co-wrote two articles for scientific magazines and developed Instagram posts to raise awareness on SCI. Additionally, she assisted in the development of the entrepreneurial and human practices aspects of the project, where she researched supply chains and engaged with relevant stakeholders. Beatriz also helped deliver our first Biologix lecture, as well as liaising with ‘Mother Nature Science’ for our educational outreach. She worked on structuring, designing and animating the Promotional video, and narrated our video in Portuguese. Lastly, Beatriz played a key role in structuring, designing and coding the iGEM wiki, as well as designing and implementing many interactive graphical control elements.
Charity Teh
Head of Video Editing and Production
Special Mention
Video Production and Audio Editing, Foreign Body Reaction Research
Charity was a primary member of the SCI Subgroup, where she conducted extensive literature research into the SCI microenvironment and foreign body reactions, with a particular focus on inflammatory cascades. She also participated in entrepreneurial research, where she developed our licensing strategy and investigated our project’s prior art. Charity also engaged in science communication and educational outreach, where she organised short quizzes, developed social media posts and lectures on Synthetic Biology. Furthermore, she engaged with the University of Manchester iGEM team to further our human practices outreach by interviewing clinicians and researchers. She also participated in other collaboration initiatives including developing a comic book strip for ISSER Berhampur. Charity also played a key role in audio and video production. She was responsible for conceptualisation, story-board progression and video editing for the promotional and presentation videos, as well as contributing to vector design and composing music for these project deliverables.
Dimitar Dimitrov
Head of Modelling
Special Mention
Sequence Analysis, Thermostabilization Modelling and Wet Lab
Dimitar was a primary member of the Mussel Foot Protein Subgroup. He aided in the expression of ChABC, tyrosinase and PVFP-5 by performing sequence analysis, optimisation and additionally the construction of our vectors. He also worked in the lab, where he induced protein expression, and performed DNA and protein analysis . Furthermore, Dimitar improved last year’s structural model for PVFP-5 by creating a new homology modelling and molecular dynamics pipeline on GROMACS. He also developed a model for the binding between MFP and PCL by creating a calculation software that determines the amount of protein required for varying scaffold dimensions. He also developed a protein to DNA sequence transition tool for optimising expression in different model systems. In addition, he engaged with the Phystech Moscow Team to perform computational thermostabilization of Chondroitinase ABC. Finally, Dimitar supported the wiki team by coding the footer and other JavaScript elements.
Ela Kanani
Co-Head of Bioprinting Subgroup & Co Head of Dry Lab
Special Mention
Scaffold Project Design and Research, Computational Fluid Dynamics Modelling
Ela was the Co-Head of the Bioprinting subteam alongside Remy Tran. She was responsible for ensuring that the Subgroup ran efficiently—via organising and allocating tasks, alongside time management, proof-reading Bioprinting research, and providing guidance for the subteam. She carried out extensive literature reviews investigating the micro-architecture of the scaffold and identified the ideal pore parameters and geometries in order to assess the design created in Phase I and the effectiveness of the change in design for Phase II. Further concerning scaffold architecture, after consulting literature, she supported the decision to change the scaffold's macro-architecture design. She was also jointly responsible, alongside Thurga Navaseelan, for the Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations of the scaffold using ANSYS—including research on simulation parameters and assumptions, meshing the scaffold in preparation for simulation, and deciding on boundary conditions—to ultimately validate and assess the scaffolds’ permeability and wall shear stress. Throughout both of these engineering cycles, she organised human practices calls and liaised with experts to help guide and reaffirm our choices. Moreover, she organised the mechanical lab testing performed for the scaffold to validate its physical properties. Finally, she assisted in the Biologix competition by recording a section of a lecture and participating in the students’ drop-in session.
Emily Kostina
Head of Science Communication
Special Mention
Animation, CAD Modelling, Design and Media Outreach
Emily was a primary member of the Bioprinting Subgroup, where she conducted extensive literature research into scaffold design micro- and macro-architecture. This allowed her to construct a CAD model of our log-pile scaffold. Through her research she determined a method towards efficient scaffold fabrication, finalising these findings in the creation of a guide for the iGEM community. Emily also conducted research into fluid mechanics, where she determined methods and input values required for further computational fluid dynamics modelling carried out by Ela Kanani and Thurga Navaseelan. Emily was heavily involved in design, science communication and media outreach for the project, where she spearheaded our social media campaigns and developed presentations for our collaborations, human practices and entrepreneurial engagements. In addition, she played a key role in animating our promotional video using Opentoonz and assisted in developing our final presentation video. Furthermore, she helped develop the Biologix website and design structure of the team wiki.
Finn Hull
Bioprinting Member
Special Mention
Content Management & Review
Finn was primarily a member of the Bioprinting subgroup. Primarily, Finn worked on collating information across various aspects of the project to help produce the finalised content in Bioprinting, SCI and Education. He proofread and devised the structure for various write-ups of our project design and structure. Finn also contributed to the iGEM community by developing a 3D printing guidebook. As part of the Bioprinting subgroup, he conducted research investigating scaffold porosity, unit cell designs, printers and materials. He also aided in the initial research regarding the implementation of drugs and delivery methods, as well as analysing existing SCI therapies. Lastly, he conducted additional research into using hydrogels for SCI treatment and alternative therapeutic agents for our proposed implementation.
Harshraj Bumia
Head of Mussel Foot Protein Subgroup and Wet Lab
Special Mention
Parts, Protocols, Structural Modelling and Biologix Website Development
Harsh was the head of the Mussel Foot Protein subgroup and laboratory team. As subgroup leader, he played a fundamental role in the development of the subteams' work, instilling his knowledge from the previous year. He played a key role in ensuring all avenues of research were being completed efficiently, managing tasks and workloads. He completed research on the applications of MFP, particularly focussing on developing laboratory protocols for all of our experiments, synthesising and optimising our expression vectors and understanding the chemistry behind MFP adhesion. He assisted in the creation of our structural model of PVFP-5 alongside Dimitar Dimitrov and worked towards developing our proof of concept. In addition, he supported the team by engaging in human practices and educational outreach, specifically in the development of our pilot competition, Biologix.
Kate Flanagan
Deputy of SCI
Special Mention
CSPG Research, ChABC Modelling and SCI Biochemistry Project Design
Kate conducted extensive literature reviews on Chondroitinase ABC and the SCI microenvironment, specifically understanding the mechanisms behind Chondroitin Sulphate Proteoglycans (CSPGs). She engaged in human practices by contacting experts in ChABC, CSPGs and spinal cord injuries, using the gathered insight to formulate the SCI subgroup research and development. Kate also co-wrote an in-depth guide on CSPG functionality, specifically the structure and function of the different types of CSPGs and how they act to inhibit axonal regrowth in SCI. She determined the most naturally stable sequence of ChABC and highlighted the active sites of the enzyme. Kate worked in the lab on the expression of ChABC and PVFP-5, as well as the in silico validation of ChABC thermostabilisation in collaboration with Phystech Moscow. She helped develop and visualise the engineering cycles for the SCI subgroup by producing flowcharts, as well as contributing to the script for the Presentation Vide, utilising her developed knowledge of SCI. In addition, Kate also procured a sponsorship for the competition Biologix. She assisted in understanding the MFP-ECM binding mechanisms and ensuring that ChABC would not halter the adhesiveness of PVFP-5.
Milan Singh
Deputy of Mussel Foot Protein Subgroup
Special Mention
Animation, Binding Model, Wet Lab, Human Practices Outreach
Milan was a primary member of the Mussel Foot Protein (MFP) Subgroup. Here, she conducted extensive literature reviews on the functionality of PVFP-5, specifically focussing on surface interactions, reactivity and strategies to prevent unwanted oxidation reactions. To complement her research she organised and engaged with stakeholders as part of the teams’ integrated human practices. Milan also researched different approaches to engineer and improve the properties of PVFP-5, most notably the PVFP-5 / Spidroin fusion. Additionally, she predicted the MFP-PCL binding model and developed a video alongside Aditya Shirode to showcase their findings. Furthermore, she also worked in the laboratory, where she prepared cultures and ran separation techniques for ChABC, as well as prepared purification protocols for PVFP-5. Other than participating in scientific research, Milan was involved in animating part of the promotional video with ‘Opentoonz’ and narrated the video in Italian. She also helped develop the projects’ outreach through science communication, where she wrote an article on the functionality of PVFP-5 for a chemistry magazine and participated in developing the Biologix competition in its early stages.
Qurratu Aini Binti Hashim
SCI Biochemistry Member
Special Mention
Animation, SCI Research, Entrepreneurship and Educational Outreach
Aini was part of the Spinal Cord Injury Subgroup and contributed to research surrounding the suitability of hydrogels versus microinjections as a delivery vehicle for ChABC. She also researched into the feasible vertebral locations in which to deliver the enzyme alongside holistic processes across surgical and rehabilitation procedures. In addition to research, she contributed towards developing the projects’ Engineering Success cycles and the design of Canva diagrams to better illustrate fundamental concepts of SCI research and for September’s Spinal Cord Injury Awareness month as part of science communication. Moreover, Aini was involved in our Inclusivity research, aiding the launch of Biologix and helping to structure the first lecture. With regards to the entrepreneurial aspects of the project, she focused on funding strategies to develop the Business Plan and participated in our pitches. Lastly, she took part in several Human Practices meetings which helped shape and refine the project design, participated in presentations for meetups, and aided creation of the promotional video as one of the main animators using ‘Opentoonz’, which Aini also narrated in Bahasa Melayu.
Thurga Reshe Navaseelan
Co-Head of Dry Lab
Special Mention
Patent Law and Licencing Strategy, Computational Fluid Dynamic Modelling and Design
Thurga was a primary member of the Bioprinting Subgroup; initially researching methods to model axonal regrowth via the use of our scaffold design. She also contributed to research surrounding the redesign of our scaffold microarchitecture, conducting literature reviews regarding the importance of linear, homogenous pores. Alongside Ela Kanani, she was responsible for computationally testing the new scaffold macro- and micro-architecture through Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations. This involved extensive research into the software ANSYS, and the general set up of CFD models. She also went into the lab to run compressive tests on our printed scaffolds. As a secondary member of the Spinal Cord Injury Subgroup, Thurga also assisted with early research into the implementation of ChABC into our therapy. Additionally, she was on the Design and Science Communication teams, creating posts about the applications of synthetic biology for social media and vectors for the promotional video. She also provided the Tamil translation and narration for the promotional video. For our Biologix competition, she narrated sections of a lecture. Finally, Thurga completed research into patenting and the routes we could take to protect our intellectual property given our position as an iGEM team.
Venkata (Kalyan) Ghadiyaram
Co-Head of Entrepreneurship
Special Mention
Parts, PVFP-5 Applications and Proposed Implementation
Kalyan was a primary member of the MFP team. He helped research and select a plasmid backbone, which would be used in our wet-lab work to synthesize PVFP-5. In addition, he researched the applications of mussel foot proteins, mussel inspired polymers and investigated the pH behaviour of PVFP-5. He also aided in developing laboratory protocols. Outside of scientific research, he organised and led much of the proposed implementation and entrepreneurial work. Adding to this work he also aided in the development and presentation of the pitch deck. Furthermore, Kalyan contributed significantly to the scripts for the Promotional Video, Presentational Video and Pitchdeck. Kalyan has also helped in our educational outreach, creating a pre-recorded lecture in collaboration with St Andrews and Mother Nature for primary school and high school students about the applications of Synthetic Biology in solving global problems.
Remy Tran
Co-Head of Bioprinting
Special Mention
Scaffold Fabrication Guide and Entrepreneurship Research
Remy worked alongside Ela Kanani as Co-Head of Bioprinting, this year he collaborated with Professor Trevor Coward and Giovanni Gonella to print the PCL scaffold at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital. He conducted research into the bioprinting team’s engineering success and scaffold engineering and reinforced this information by contacting researchers in the field for human practices. Following this, Remy collated information on our novel treatment to produce a 3D printing guidebook. Remy was also part of the Entrepreneurship team, helping to produce and design the pitch deck, pitching it to a panel, and aided the Entrepreneurship team in producing the business plan. For this, Remy researched licensing strategy, funding routes, and supply chain of our treatment.
Supervisor Attributions
Primary PI: Dr Anatoliy Markiv
Position
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Secondary PI: Alison Snape
Position
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Human Practices & Support
