EngBio Symposium - 12 November 2026

Engineering Biology Interdisciplinary Research Centre (IRC) Forum 

Venue: McGrath Centre, St Catharine's College

Engineering Life from First Principles
Physical Biology, Synthetic Cells and Bioinspired Engineering

The Forum brings together researchers from different areas to share ideas, swap perspectives, and explore how metabolic design is shaping the future of biological innovation. Whether you’re new to Engineering Biology,  joining the discussion, or just coming along to learn and connect, we’re really looking forward to welcoming you to a lively and inspiring event.

EngBio Forum

4.45pm - Registration and Refreshments

5.00pm – Welcome from the EngBio IRC Chairs and Coordinator

5.10pm -  Keynote Speaker Yuval Elani, Imperial College London

"Building a new biology: microfluidics and engineered biomembranes as enabling technologies in synthetic cell design"

6.00pm Keynote Speaker Two

6.45pm  Q&A / Comments

7.00pm - 7.30pm Networking, Buffet

Building a new biology: microfluidics and engineered biomembranes as enabling technologies in synthetic cell design

Professor Yuval Elani, Imperial College London

Abstract:  Synthetic cells (SynCells) are bio‑inspired micromachines constructed from molecular building blocks that mimic the form and function of biological cells. Despite their promise, most SynCells remain structurally simplistic, primarily consisting of spherical liposomes, in contrast to their biological counterparts, which are highly compartmentalised. Because form and function are tightly intertwined, this lack of architectural complexity limits the emergence of more sophisticated behaviours. In this talk, I will describe how we overcome these limitations by employing microfluidic assembly lines for SynCell production, enabling the generation of a wide repertoire of SynCell architectures. This, in turn, allows the creation of synthetic cells with emergent behaviours, including motility, bioproduction, cell–cell communication, collective actuation, and responsiveness to a variety of stimuli such as temperature, light, and magnetic fields. In addition, we have recently expanded our toolkit to access the nanoscale by using automated approaches to generate and screen liposome libraries. Combined with rational design, this enables the construction of nano‑organelles for multi‑stage release of different payloads at defined time points, as well as the development of attolitre bioreactors for in situ biochemical synthesis.

Bio: Professor Yuval Elani is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London. He co-directs the Imperial Membrane Biophysics Platform and is co-founder of fabriCELL, a centre dedicated to advancing synthetic cell technologies. Yuval studied Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge before completing his PhD in 2015 at Imperial’s Institute of Chemical Biology. His group is focused on blue-sky research, where they aim to build fully synthetic cells in the lab: cells that are autonomous, programmable, and capable of exhibiting life-like behaviours, but which are built from the bottom-up from molecular components.

Keynote Speaker Two: TBC

About the EngBio Forums

The Engineering Biology Forums are a series of talks exploring key tools for the future of engineering biology and biotechnology. Hosted by the Engineering Biology Interdisciplinary Research Centre at the University of Cambridge, the forums take place 5pm-7.30pm at St Catharine's College, Cambridge.  Keynote lectures and discussion session will be followed by food, drinks and networking.

Cancellation and No-shows

If your plans change and you’re unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible. We have a waiting list and must confirm catering numbers with the venue a week in advance.  Your prompt notice helps us reduce food waste and offer your place to someone else. Thank you so much for your understanding.