News & Updates

The visit was an excellent example of effort across Macquarie University Faculty of Science and Engineering with the visit organised by Yijiao Jiang from the School of Engineering plus lab tours and discussions with the Australian Genome Foundry team. We were pleased to welcome: •⁠ ⁠Prof. Liang Dong – Director, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering •⁠ ⁠Prof. Cheng Huiming – Academician, CAS; Director, Institute of Technology for Carbon Neutrality •⁠ ⁠Prof. Pan Haobo – Director, Institute of Biomedicine and Technology •⁠ ⁠Prof. Wang Liping – Director, Institute of Brain Cognition and Brain Disease •⁠ ⁠Prof. Fu Xiongfei – Director, Institute of Synthetic Biology •⁠ ⁠Prof. Huang Shuqiang – Director, Institute of Synthetic Biology

Researchers from the Australian Genome Foundry, working within the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology at Macquarie University, report a new experimental platform for bacterial genome engineering in a January 2026 bioRxiv preprint. The study demonstrates a SCRaMbLE-like system in bacteria, implemented in *Vibrio natriegens*, enabling on-demand generation of genomic diversity through large-scale genome rearrangements. Analysis of resulting strains shows that distinct genome organisations can support stable physiology and rapid growth, indicating that bacteria may tolerate chromosomal alterations more readily than previously appreciated. This work was carried out in collaboration with the group of Alfonso Soler‑Bistué at the Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas (IIB‑UNSAM–CONICET). 🔗 Read the preprint: https://www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2026.01.06.698047v1

The Australian Genome Foundry (AGF) proudly supported Macquarie-Australia as the sole team representing Australia at the prestigious International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition in 2025. Coordinated by Dr Jocelyn Johns, a synthetic biologist at AGF, the team returned from Paris with a Gold Medal, a testament to their innovation and hard work. AGF Director, Professor Ian Paulsen, proudly welcomed the team home, celebrating their achievement on the global stage. The Macquarie-Australia iGEM team included eight talented students. From the Masters of Biotechnology: Blake Gibbs, Gehna Verma, Louis Taffinder, Mahia Quadrey, Sophia Yap; from Masters of Research: Faith Orbeta; studying a Bachelor of Medical Science: Yin Sim; and studying a Bachelor of Engineering & Medical Science: Jack Ryan. The team was guided by Dr Jocelyn Johns (Principal Investigator) and PhD candidate and iGEM veteran Josip Mujic (Advisor). What is iGEM and why does it matter? iGEM is the world’s leading synthetic biology competition, culminating in the Grand Jamboree, held this year in Paris. Over its 22-year history, iGEM has attracted 4,500+ universities across 65 countries, inspiring the creation of 250+ biotech companies worldwide. One notable success story is HydGene Renewables, which originated from Macquarie University’s 2017 iGEM project. The competition showcases projects tackling global challenges in medicine, agriculture, and environmental science. For students, iGEM offers networking opportunities, hands-on lab experience, project management skills, and science communication training. All critical for future careers in biotechnology. Yin shared “…iGEM gave me a comprehensive glimpse into what a career in synthetic biology might look like. It has inspired me and reshaped how I see my future in science." Sharing his experience of the Grand Jamboree Louis added, “Meeting teams from around the world gave me a genuine sense of the scale and diversity of the synthetic biology community.” Macquarie-Australia’s Project: MethaNO At the 2025 Grand Jamboree, attended by 5,000 participants, the Macquarie-Australia team presented MethaNO: preliminary research toward development of an affordable biosensor for methanol detection in alcoholic beverages, helping people avoid methanol poisoning, a serious health problem that affects thousands of people worldwide each year. This issue gained global attention after recent tragedies: six backpackers in Laos last year, and over 40 fatalities in Moscow and hundreds of cases in São Paulo since September this year (https://methanolpoisoning.msf.org/en/outbreaks-worldwide/). Dr Johns explains: “There is currently no cheap and easy method for a consumer, bar or small-scale distiller to test alcoholic beverages for methanol which can be an unintended consequence of the distilling process. While gas chromatography is the gold standard for detection of methanol, it’s an expensive lab-based test that’s inaccessible to most people. Methanol poisoning deaths are tragic and ought to be preventable with a simple accessible test that could prevent unnecessary exposure. Although the iGEM competition has concluded for this team, I sincerely hope we can find a way to continue advancing this work and translate it into real-world impact.” AGF’s Critical Role AGF not only provided financial sponsorship but also provided access to AGF’s world class PC2 level lab facilities with cutting edge technology. AGF staff, Dr Nicholas Yang, Dr Arden Lee, and Dr Pramita Ranjit, offered expert lab supervision, enabling the team to conduct their research to the highest standards. How does iGEM participation benefit students? The iGEM competition challenges the students across many aspects of science beyond the lab and the contributions through monetary support and expertise from organisations such as AGF are paramount. Yin noted, “What I didn’t expect was how transformative the experience would be. Being part of the iGEM team opened doors far beyond the lab bench.” Gehna reflected, “It was challenging and sometimes frustrating, but it taught me to adapt, think creatively, and see failure as part of progress. I’ve walked away with more confidence, a deeper appreciation for collaborative science, and a clearer sense of how research connects beyond the lab.” Blake shared, “Being part of the iGEM team has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my university journey.” These perspectives highlight the transformative nature of iGEM in building confidence, communication skills, and relevant networks for those exploring further education or careers in STEM. Specifically, broadening minds to the vast impact synthetic biology may have in our future as science is translated into real world impact. The Macquarie-Australia team’s work will remain accessible through their open-source iGEM wiki page, acknowledging all contributors, including AGF: https://2025.igem.wiki/macquarie-australia/

The *Strengthening NZ–AU Collaboration in Synthetic Biology & the Bioeconomy* event held on 18 November 2025 in Wellington, underscored a trans-Tasman ecosystem shifting from isolated capability development to coordinated, system-level execution. Hosted by the Australian Genome Foundry (AGF), Macquarie University in collaboration with Callaghan Innovation’s Biotechnologies Group, and Plant SynBio Australia (PSBA), the focused roundtable and networking session convened leaders from research, government and startups to align priorities for synbio-led growth. Discussions highlighted complementary national infrastructure. A unified trans-Tasman bioinnovation platform that accelerates scale, reduces duplication, and attracts capital is enabled by aligning Australia’s NCRIS ecosystem with New Zealand’s Callaghan Innovation and Bioeconomy Science Institute. Australia’s NCRIS ecosystem—delivered in part through Bioplatforms Australia—supports national-scale genomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics and synthetic biology platforms, including AGF, IDEA Bio and PSBA. In New Zealand, Callaghan Innovation provides fermentation and pilot-scale expertise, while the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI), established in July 2025 through the merger of AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research and Scion, brings together more than 1,500 scientists to accelerate bio-based innovation. Participants supported positioning NZ and AU facilities as a single, globally competitive region. Continuity across the synthetic biology pipeline emerged as a central theme: from design and engineering through fermentation, pilot-scale validation, field trials, plant scale-up and commercial deployment. Despite new infrastructure coming online — including Australia’s Mackay-based Pioneer BioPilot (PC2-accredited, food-grade pilot-scale precision fermentation facility), NSW-based Cauldron Ferm’s continuous fermentation platform, and New Zealand’s Rotorua-based Biofactory (including 2 × 10,000 L vessels) — significant gaps remain. Both countries face shortages in mid- and commercial-scale fermentation capacity. Australia also has gaps in field trials and scale-up facilities for GMO plants, while New Zealand has only one GMO plant field-trial site and no established pathway for GMO plant scale-up or commercialisation. These constraints contribute to companies commercialising offshore due to limited local scale-up options. Participants emphasised the need for earlier commercialisation planning in research projects, clearer IP ownership frameworks to attract venture capital, and exploration of blended capital models. Workforce mobility, capital access, and commercial readiness were identified as system-level pressure points. Visa approval timelines of approximately five months or longer in both countries, skills shortages, high capital costs, and fragmented funding visibility limit momentum. A strong mandate emerged for greater transparency and coordination. Improved transparency through shared NZ–AU infrastructure and capability mapping was strongly supported to reduce duplication, clarify pathways and accelerate collaboration as regulatory reform in New Zealand is underway to align with Australia’s Gene Technology Bill, with outcomes expected in 2026. However, cross-border R&D tax constraints remain a key friction point, limiting the ability to claim expenditure across jurisdictions and slowing trans-Tasman collaboration. Priority actions identified as Trans-Tasman synthetic biology is shifting from fragmented efforts to a coordinated, end-to-end innovation pipeline across NZ and Australia. Launching a shared online platform, mapping trans-Tasman capabilities, and enabling targeted facility access will reduce friction, and accelerate a globally competitive bioeconomy ecosystem to retain innovation onshore.

Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen, Director of the ARC Centre for Synthetic Biology and the Australian Genome Foundry (AGF) at Macquarie University, and AGF Chief Scientist Dr Briardo Llorente, will lead the Australian arm of the ambitious project to establish synthetic chromosomes in crop plants. The grant supports an international collaboration between Macquarie University, the University of Cambridge, University of Western Australia, and UK-based company Phytoform, with additional support of $450,000 AUD from Bioplatforms Australia.

The Australian Genome Foundry (AGF) was this year granted $11.5 million in funding from the Federal Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), administered by Bioplatforms Australia, to support the AGF’s operations for the next four years. At the official launch at Macquarie University Art Gallery, Vice-Chancellor Professor S. Bruce Dowton welcomed the Member for Bennelong, Mr. Jerome Laxale, who formally opened the Australian Genome Foundry, along with guests including researchers and industry professionals. Established in 2023, the AGF is a cutting-edge facility that uses high-throughput robotics and automated equipment to accelerate synthetic biology research, enabling users to design, build, and test industrial microbes and proteins at scale. Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen, Director of the AGF, said: “The Australian Genome Foundry brings together a unique combination of equipment for academic and industry users—both within Macquarie and from the wider R&D community—to access and accelerate their research, proving their concept at laboratory scale or building a prototype or a minimum viable product faster. By enabling the first crucial steps in the commercialisation process, we’re helping startups gain the proof of concept needed to raise capital and advance their ideas.” Dr. Briardo Llorente, Chief Scientific Officer of the AGF, added: “The AGF’s high-throughput capabilities enable us to engineer thousands of microbial strains at a time, opening up new avenues for research and innovation across various industries.” The additional funding will allow the AGF to expand its physical capabilities and infrastructure, add 40 new lab benches for startups and researchers, and invest in more advanced equipment to keep pace with the rapidly evolving field of synthetic biology. Belinda Fabian, Operations Manager at the AGF, said: “The funding allows us to retain and develop highly skilled professionals in the field. As synthetic biology applications expand across various industries, maintaining this expertise is vital for Australia’s competitiveness on the global stage.” The AGF’s research spans industries including food and beverage, agriculture, climate change, and energy—enabling significant advances in traditional manufacturing processes, such as upcycling waste products from industries to create value-added products. The AGF’s incubation space for startup companies provides access to state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and expertise. It is currently hosting five startups. Two companies that have already spun out from this environment by Macquarie researchers are Number 8 Bio, which creates agricultural feed that reduces livestock methane emissions, and HydGene Renewables, whose biocatalyst platform converts abundant waste materials into green hydrogen. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Sakkie Pretorius stated: “The Australian Genome Foundry aligns perfectly with Macquarie University’s focus on creation and innovation that contributes to Australia’s future, and we are thrilled to support its groundbreaking work.” The AGF currently offers 15 Master of Research and PhD scholarship positions for industry-relevant synthetic biology projects. Funding for each scholarship is split 50-50 between Macquarie University and a specific industry partner. “The AGF plays a crucial role in positioning Australia to compete globally in an industry projected to have significant economic impact,” Professor Pretorius said. According to Australia’s *Synthetic Biology National Progress Report 2024*, the sector is predicted to be worth around $30 billion in annual revenue by 2040.