College of Engineering, Design & Computing Events

17 May | Ideas Lab: Advancing Cell-Free Systems Toward Increased Range of Use-Inspired Applications (CFIRE)

NSF

The CFIRE initiative will accelerate the adoption of cell-free systems, enable new applications of this technology and contribute to the growth of the U.S. bioeconomy. CFIRE will address the key limitations of cell-free technology by identifying technical approaches that can enable ongoing cycles of improvement. The objective is to place cell-free technology on an exponential growth path in which reduced costs lead to increasing adoption which, in turn, generates the learning and investment required to further reduce costs. CFIRE will use the Ideas Lab process, starting with an intensive meeting that brings together multiple diverse perspectives. The primary objectives of this Ideas Lab workshop will be to: identify specific opportunities to significantly reduce the cost of cell-free systems; establish acceptable standards for the fidelity and reproducibility; expand the range of capabilities in order to facilitate broader adoption of the technology; and identify and prioritize use-driven applications beyond human therapeutics.