Synthetic Biology and Genetic Engineering for Human Health and Society (2023-2024)
The Duke International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) team was founded to stimulate and nurture students’ passions in science and engineering with a focus on synthetic biology and biotechnology exploration, in order to prepare them as future leaders, innovators and researchers in these emerging fields. Through iGEM, students participate in all aspects of the engineering cycle, including designing, building, testing and learning for a research project that will advance health outcomes using novel synthetic biology tools. In addition, iGEM compels its student researchers to analyze the human and ethical practices of their research.
In 2023-2024, the Duke iGEM team explored cancer treatment therapies. Chimeric antigen T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is an emerging immunotherapy that reprograms a patient's own T-cells to target cancer cells based on their expressed antigens. CAR-T cell therapy has proved effective in blood cancers, but unsuccessful in tackling solid tumors. Recently, synthetic biology approaches to create CAR-T cells secreting cytokines aim to increase T-cell activation in fighting cancer. However, these strategies neglect the potential challenge of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a condition that can lead to deadly complications.
Team members developed ICARUS, Intelligent CAR Upregulation System, a platform that allows for enhanced T cell activation, mitigation of CRS, and a more cost-effective solution to treat a diverse set of solid and bloodborne tumors.
Team members shared their findings at the international iGEM Grant Jamboree in November 2023, where they earned a silver medal.
Timing
Summer 2023 – Summer 2024
Team Outputs
Student-developed genetically engineered machine
DNA constructs uploaded as “biobricks” to iGEM community
ICARUS – Intelligent Chimeric Antigen Receptor Upregulation System (Poster presented at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 17, 2024)
Silver medal for ICARUS – Intelligent Chimeric Antigen Upregulation System (Presented at iGEM Grand Jamboree, Paris, France, November 2-5, 2023)
See related teams, Duke iGEM: Synthetic Biology for Human Health and Society (2024-2025) and Synthetic Biology and Genetic Engineering for Human Health and Society (2022-2023).
Image: Team members at the iGEM Grand Jamboree in Paris, France