In a significant boost to the field of synthetic biology, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced the establishment of a new iBioFoundry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This cutting-edge facility will harness over a decade of groundbreaking research at the university, integrating synthetic biology, laboratory automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) to push the boundaries of protein and cellular engineering. The Illinois iBioFoundry is one of five new biofoundries being launched across the United States, each with a unique focus on advancing biology and biotechnology.

The NSF highlights that these biofoundries are designed to “spur innovation, provide tools and technologies to researchers, and help advance biology, biotechnology, and the broader science, technology, engineering, and math enterprise.”

Leading the NSF iBioFoundry at Illinois is Huimin Zhao, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. Zhao explains that the new facility will significantly expand the use of automated systems, machine learning, and AI to drive progress in synthetic biology, biotechnology, and genomics. "Our previous work has laid a strong foundation in these areas," Zhao notes, referencing the university’s pioneering developments such as BioAutomata—a robotic biomanufacturing platform powered by AI that utilizes living cells to produce valuable chemicals—and FAST-RiPPs, an automated system for discovering new bioactive compounds. In 2014, Illinois also established iBioFab, a key facility at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology that facilitates the efficient design, fabrication, validation, and analysis of genetic constructs and organisms.

“The NSF iBioFoundry will serve as a hub for innovation,” Zhao says. “By centralizing resources and expertise, it will streamline the creation of new bio-based products and technologies, from renewable chemicals to advanced medical treatments.” The facility aims to foster collaboration among researchers, industry experts, and policymakers, accelerating the development of sustainable biomanufacturing processes.

Another critical aspect of the iBioFoundry’s mission is to open its doors to a broad community of external users. Zhao emphasizes that this will be achieved through a peer-reviewed, competitive proposal process, enabling scientists from diverse backgrounds to leverage the facility's capabilities. The iBioFoundry will also serve as an open ecosystem for disruptive thinking, education, and community engagement, aiming to revolutionize biology education and train the next generation of scientists in biology, AI, and robotics.

The NSF has awarded Illinois $15 million over six years to support the iBioFoundry’s mission, marking a significant investment in the future of synthetic biology and biomanufacturing.