Symposium SB11-SynBioelectronics

Both Synthetic biology (encompassing engineered cellular and cell-free systems) and Bioelectronics aim to augment biological function for applications in therapeutics, diagnostics, or robotics, among others. Recent research at the intersection of synthetic biology and bioelectronics reveals a promising synergy, involving the integration of bioelectronic devices with synthetic biological circuits for precise control of function like metabolic reactions, signaling, sensing, and gene expression. This convergence combines the biological specificity of synthetic biology with the precision and communication capabilities of bioelectronic systems, facilitated by advances in microfabrication and novel materials. These advancements have minimized the size of the interface, allowing for direct communication with individual cells and membrane proteins. While synthetic biology can regulate their behavior through chemical feedback, their functional connectivity is inherently limited, lacking the advanced computational abilities found in organisms with a nervous system. The integration of synthetic biology with bioelectronics provides access to complex computations, allowing for both real-time and long-term adaptations. The enhanced capabilities emerging from this convergence have the potential to expand and deepen the impact of both synthetic biology and bioelectronics, leading to the development of user-programmable living organisms. These organisms could perform specific functions such as the synthesis of desired substances, directed motion, synthesis and modification of specific genes, cell reproduction and proliferation, thereby opening opportunities in regulated, personalized therapeutics. This symposium will bring together a diverse set of researchers from academia to industry, forefronting advancements in understanding and engineering biohybrid devices capable of producing and modulating cells, controlling therapeutic doses, and enabling precise diagnostics and interventions for mitigating disorders.

Topics will include:

Cell-based biohybrids systems for biomedical applications
Soft electronic materials and biological systems interface
Electronic/optical/electrochemical coupling with cells and microorganisms
3D-4D engineered living materials and devices
Cell-type specific neuromodulation
Drug/gene delivery materials for neural interfacing
Biohybrid Robotics
Novel biological signal transduction approaches
Microorganisms and cells engineering for biosensing
Single-molecule measurements on peptides, proteins, and biomolecular interactions
Integrated devices with multiple neural interfacing modality
Biosensing/stimulation devices, and closed loop sensing/stimulation
Fundamentals of engineered microbial fuel cells
Cell-laden or biohybrid electronics and/or living hydrogels and their applications
Conducting hydrogels & proteins: synthesis, characterization and application
Brain-machine interfacing and health monitoring

Invited Speakers:

Alex Abramson (Georgia Institute of Technology, USA)
Rashid Bashir (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA)
Guillermo Bazan (National University of Singapore, Singapore)
Alexander Boys (Dartmouth College, USA)
Tzahi Cohen-Karni (Carnegie Mellon University, USA)
Susan Daniel (Cornell University, USA)
Sahika Inal (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia)
Duygu Kuzum (University of California, San Diego, USA)
Anna-Maria Pappa (Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates)
Tyler Ray (University of Hawaii, USA)
Jacob Robinson (Rice University, USA)
Marco Rolandi (University of California, Santa Cruz, USA)
Alexandra Rutz (Washington University in St. Louis, USA)
Achilleas Savva (Delft University of Technology, Netherlands)
Paul Sheehan (Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, USA)
Samuel Sia (Columbia University, USA)
Hyongsok Tom Soh (Stanford University, USA)
James Stafford (The University of Vermont, USA)
Xenofon Strakosas (Linköping University, Sweden)
Luisa Torsi (Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Italy)
Christina Tringides (Rice University, USA)
Omid Veiseh (Rice University, USA)
Rabia Yazicigil (Boston University, USA)