UK-wide nucleic acid network launches to connect research, industry and innovation
By fostering collaboration at a national scale, the initiative will support the development of next-generation therapeutics, diagnostics and enabling technologies.
Hub contribution
Hub Director Professor Susan Rosser will lead the University of Edinburgh's involvement in the network, supported by Dr Alice Barrier, Head of Operations, and Dr Rennos Fragkoudis, Head of Edinburgh Genome Foundry.
The goals of the network are aligned with the aims of the Advanced Therapeutics Hub: to harness engineering biology to develop safer, more precise and controllable next-generation gene therapies and advanced therapeutics.
The Hub brings together expertise in synthetic biology, gene regulation, therapeutic design and translational innovation to help shape the future of advanced medicines.
As a partner of the Hub, the Edinburgh Genome Foundry brings expertise in automated DNA design and engineering, helping academic and industry researchers design, build and test new biological systems and tools more quickly and efficiently.
Advancing nucleic acid research
Research on nucleic acids, primarily DNA and RNA, is vital for understanding the genetic blueprints of all living cells and viruses and many of the molecular functions that form the basis of life.
Currently, scientists working on nucleic acids are often dispersed across disciplines and institutions, limiting opportunities for collaboration and slowing the translation of discoveries into real-world applications.
To tackle this, the network aims to create a cross-disciplinary community to translate cutting-edge research into real-world impact.
It will connect expertise across disciplines, including molecular biology, chemistry, engineering, computational science, and biotechnology. By working collectively, the network aims to speed up innovation and get new DNA and RNA-based ideas out of the laboratory and into real-world use.
The Network will champion a wide range of DNA and RNA-related research, including:
Next-generation medical treatments using RNA to target diseases more precisely
DNA nanotechnology, where DNA is engineered to act like nanorobots - tiny machines for drug delivery or diagnostics
Synthetic biology, designing new biological systems using DNA/RNA for cleaner manufacturing or climate solutions
Computational biology, using AI and data science to understand how DNA/RNA behave and interact
A UK-wide network to support innovation
The network is led by the University of Portsmouth in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, Newcastle University, University of Sheffield, University of Strathclyde and University of York.
A Leadership Team, spanning the United Kingdom, will head up the network. To encourage and consolidate collaborative working, webinars, workshops, mentoring and discussion groups will support learning and promote open communication and exchange of ideas. Placements and working groups will provide collaborative spaces to work together and embed new knowledge and capabilities.
The network is supported by over £900,000 in combined funding, including £650,000 from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and £267,000 in partner contributions.
This network is about bringing people together who might not otherwise connect. If we want to see real progress in nucleic acid innovation, we need to work across disciplines and sectors, sharing ideas and building new collaborations.
By creating an open and inclusive community, we hope to enable new partnerships and support people at all career stages to help translate research into real-world solutions.
Anastasia Callaghan
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at the University of Portsmouth
