Suffolk Reporter

Stony Brook University's International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) team has achieved a significant milestone by securing its third gold medal at the iGEM Giant Jamboree. The event, held from October 23 to 26 in Paris, France, is a global showcase for synthetic biology projects. This year, it saw participation from 438 teams representing over 45 countries. Stony Brook was among the 16 U.S. collegiate teams that received a gold medal.

The team's project aimed to develop a less invasive and more cost-effective method for diagnosing B-cell lymphoma. Their approach involved equipping E.coli with a genetically engineered gene circuit to detect microRNAs as biomarkers of the disease.

"Stony Brook’s participation in iGEM continues to have a profound impact on our students," stated Peter Gergen, SUNY distinguished service professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. He highlighted the cohesion within this year's team and acknowledged the guidance from former iGEM members Chris Helenek, AJ Sillato, Abhishek Cherath, Michelle Yang, Bushra Islam, Zach Don, Dr. Joshua Rest (Ecology and Evolution), and Melanie Cragan (Biochemistry and Cell Biology).

The interdisciplinary team included three juniors, four sophomores, and eight first-year students when they began their project last January. They represented various majors such as biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, information systems, and political science. Faculty advisors Peter Gergen and Kathryn Gunn from the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology co-advised them alongside Gabor Balazsi from the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Support was also provided by staff in Undergraduate Biology.

Further details about Stony Brook's iGEM team and their project can be found on the iGEM website.