CONTRIBUTION

Part Contribution

Part Information

  For this year's iGEM Project, the primary focus of our project was the development of a PFAS-bind-transcytos platform. We engaged with iGEM’s design, test, build, learn, engineering scheme in order to develop, through computational design processes, a binder with improved binding efficiency and selectivity to both PFOA and PFOS molecules (see table below). We also added this to iGEM’s Registry of Standard Biological Parts.

Sponsorship and Outreach

PFAS Awareness Guide:

 As part of our education initiatives we developed a PFAS Safety and Awareness guide on what the harmful, contaminant PFAS is, where it is located, some causes of PFAs permanence in the environment, the impacts it has on human health, and an assortment of other information. The purpose of this guide was to inform members of our community where to look out for potential PFAS contaminants, how to stay safe, and how to avoid contributing to the pFAS problem (see theEducation page for details)

Sponsorship Packet

  Securing funding is a vital component of research, often consuming more time than the actual experimentation for many teams in the iGEM process. Developing a compelling portfolio that clearly communicates both the need for support and the potential benefits to sponsors is essential for effective outreach and conversations with potential partners.

  After discussions with advisors and engaging with other iGEM teams during the Sponsorship Collaboration hosted by the TU-Eindhoven iGEM Team, we devised a strategy for building partnerships with companies: creating distinct sections for team information and benefits to sponsors.

  We recognized that many companies may hesitate to scroll through lengthy portfolios to find relevant benefits. By clearly segmenting these elements, we enabled sponsors interested in detailed information to navigate easily, while also allowing those eager to get straight to business to quickly find what they need.

  This subtle shift in strategy proved instrumental in our success in securing partnerships both locally and internationally. To assist other iGEM teams in their sponsorship pursuits—whether for products or financial support—we are excited to share the portfolio we developed to forge these valuable partnerships.

Our iGEM Portfolio:

Sponsorship Benefits Graphic:

Trigem

 Our iGEM team in collaboration with the Duke iGEM team will hold TriGEM in early October this year. The meetup is hybrid, and we expect over 50 people in the North Carolina Triangle area attending on-site and people from all around the globe joining online (based on last year's attendance). We will have iGEM presentations to contribute insight to each other's project, faculty speakers, and multiple activities to help students interested in synthetic biology gain more insights into the subject and meet people with similar interests.

Mid-atlantic meetup

Participated in the Mid-atlantic meetup which saw the presentation sof 3 different iGEM Teams UMD, UVA, and UNC, and allowed for IGEM teams to contribute to each others project and exchange ideas.