Research Roadmapping

EBRC’s Research Roadmapping efforts create ambitious and visionary technical research roadmaps that identify priority areas for research over the next two decades. The roadmaps provide a point of convergence and discussion for companies, universities, policymakers, funding bodies, and the broader society as to the advancement, impact, and applications of engineering biology. Led by the Roadmapping Working Group, EBRC roadmaps set forth technical research goals that, when achieved, will be integral to solving broad societal challenges including energy resilience, sustainable food production, addressing and mitigating climate change, and combating disease and ill-health. The Working Group informs the community about challenges and the potential of engineering biology, guides better-coordinated efforts throughout the U.S. government to fund and expand engineering biology research, and brings new stakeholders into the engineering biology community. EBRC’s roadmapping is an “evergreen” activity; we endeavor to honor the acceleration of science and technology advancement through the ongoing creation of deep-dive and cross-cutting roadmaps and through assessment and renewal of our existing roadmaps.

Check out EBRC’s published roadmaps!

Interactive roadmaps available at https://roadmap.ebrc.org

 

View the Roadmaps →

Current Programs & Activities

  • Engineering Biology for Space Health: An Innovative Research Roadmap

    EBRC’s newest technical research roadmap will identify and describe opportunities for advancement in engineering biology to support the health and well-being of humans in space and related application opportunities here […]

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  • Engineering Biology Metrics and Technical Standards for the Global Bioeconomy

    To identify stakeholder-driven metrics, metrology, and standards to enhance the performance of engineering biology for commercial and industrial activity.

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Published Roadmaps

Check out EBRC’s published roadmaps at roadmap.ebrc.org!

  • Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability (September 2022)

    A Research Roadmap for a Cleaner Future

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  • Engineering Biology & Materials Science (January 2021)

    A Research Roadmap for Interdisciplinary Innovation

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  • Microbiome Engineering (October 2020)

    A Research Roadmap for the Next-Generation Bioeconomy

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  • Enabling Defense Applications through Engineering Biology (June 2020)

    A Technical Roadmap

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  • Engineering Biology (June 2019)

    A Research Roadmap for the Next-Generation Bioeconomy

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Working Group

The Roadmapping Working Group is responsible for leading the technical research roadmapping efforts for EBRC and the engineering biology community. The Roadmapping Working Group hosts a variety of activities designed to seek insight and input from EBRC members and the broader engineering biology community to build and update the EBRC roadmaps.

CHAIR: MICHAEL KÖPKE
STAFF DIRECTOR: EMILY AURAND
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Roadmapping News

  • September 27, 2022

    Just released: Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability: A Research Roadmap for a Cleaner Future

    The Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) is happy to have released our newest technical research roadmap, Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability: A Research Roadmap for a Cleaner Future. The roadmap is available as an interactive website and PDF available at https://roadmap.ebrc.org.

    This publication highlights innovative solutions and opportunities in engineering biology to support global efforts to tackle the climate crisis, enable sustainable products and solutions, and grow the circular bioeconomy. The technical roadmap addresses the current state of biotechnology for climate change mitigation and adaptation and ecosystem resilience, and lays out goals and short-, medium-, and long-term milestones for the development of engineering biology tools and technologies for a sustainable future.

    Supported by funding from the National Science Foundation, the roadmap was written collaboratively by more than 90 contributors across 56 academic institutions, biotechnology companies, government laboratories, and other organizations. The depth and breadth of this expertise is reflected in the diverse landscape of technologies, processes, and products presented in the roadmap for leveraging engineering biology to address our imminent climate crisis while advancing the bioeconomy. As the U.S. seeks to establish and maintain leadership in the global bioeconomy through the Biden Administration’s Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation, and through the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, this roadmap provides a vision of how that dedication and leadership can ultimately benefit all Americans and our global community.

    The technical roadmap focuses on novel, foundational engineering biology capabilities for the:

    • Biosequestration of Greenhouse Gases
    • Mitigation of Environmental Pollution
    • Conservation of Ecosystems and Biodiversity

    And engineering biology for climate-friendly, sustainable products and solutions for:

    • Food & Agriculture
    • Transportation & Energy
    • Materials Production & Industrial Processes

    The roadmap features case studies that explore the social and nontechnical dimensions associated with some of the roadmap’s potential climate solutions. These case studies were selected to support and encourage the incorporation of ethical, economic, political, and security considerations into the design and pursuit of technical research. The questions and considerations illuminated by these case studies highlight the need for technical and nontechnical stakeholders to work together to secure a sustainable future. The roadmap also contains a contextual glossary of terms and concepts.

    View Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability here!

  • October 14, 2020

    Modular cell-free expression plasmids to accelerate biological design in cells

    Ashty S Karim, Fungmin Eric Liew, Shivani Garg, Bastian Vögeli, Blake J Rasor, Aislinn Gonnot, Marilene Pavan, Alex Juminaga, Séan D Simpson, Michael Köpke, Michael C Jewett.  ACS Synthetic Biology.

  • August 24, 2020

    Activation of Energy Metabolism through Growth Media Reformulation Enables a 24-Hour Workflow for Cell-Free Expression

    Max Z. Levine, Byungcheol So, Alissa C. Mullin, Rob Fanter, Kayla Dillard, Katharine R. Watts, Michael R. La Frano, and Javin P. Oza. ACS Synthetic Biology.

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