Barbara Ann Halkier receives grant from the NNF

Head of DynaMo Center of Excelence Professor Barbara Ann Halkier has received a grant of 3 million DKK from the Novo Nordic Foundation for her project "Development and implementation of novel tools in sythetic biology".

The grant is one of the NNF Biotechnology-based synthesis and production research grants. The aim of Barbara's project is to develop two generic tools in synthetic biology related to engineering of carbon-carbon extension and transporter engineering.

Long-term value

The developed tools will be used to improve yeast production of the bioactive glucoraphanin associated with the health-promoting effects in broccoli.

However, as truly generic tools they will also have long-term value for many other projects within synthetic biology.

Barbara explains,

"I am very happy that NNF has funded this exciting project aimed at developing tools to extend the length of carbon-carbon chains e.g. in biofuel and to prevent premature secretion of intermediates by transport engineering".   

Clear path from proposed research to application

The NNF Biotechnology-based synthesis and production research grants support  fundamental and applied research projects aimed at generating products in improved and more sustainable ways.

In order to receive this grant ones project must involve a clear element of biotechnology and may in addition utilize any scientific and engineering discipline relevant to achieve the objectives.

Also, the project must contain a laboratory component and show a clear and plausible path from the proposed research to application in the area of biotechnology-based synthesis and production. 

Barbara Halkier's project commences 1st of March 2018 and has a duration of three years.