GenScript Announces Winners of iGEM CRISPR/Cas9 Grant

Piscataway, NJ , August 4, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​GenScript USA Inc., the number one global provider of gene synthesis services, today announced the winners of its CRISPR/Cas9 grants for this year’s Internationally Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition. This is the first year GenScript solicited iGEM proposals for applications that accelerate the CRISPR/Cas9 technology.

Teams from the Alverno High School, Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies, Boston University, College of William and Mary, Duke University, Eindhoven University of Technology, EPFL Switzerland, ETH Zurich University, Linköping University, Northwestern University, Texas Tech University, Tsinghua University, Tufts University, University of Warwick, UCC Ireland, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute will receive grants of up to US$5,000 for use as they choose to participate in the competition.

"The CRISPR/Cas9 grant allows a growing pool of young scientists to apply the genome editing technology to new systems and leverage our GenScript's CRISPR/Cas9 offerings," said Laura Geuss, Ph.D., GenScript's CRISPR Services Product Manager. "GenScript congratulates the winners and wishes all iGEM teams lots of luck in their efforts to advance synthetic biology."

Laua Geuss, Ph.D., GenScript CRISPR Services Product Manager

“The CRISPR/Cas9 grant allows a growing pool of young scientists to apply the genome editing technology to new systems and leverage our GenScript’s CRISPR/Cas9 offerings,” said Laura Geuss, Ph.D., GenScript’s CRISPR Services Product Manager. “GenScript congratulates the winners and wishes all iGEM teams lots of luck in their efforts to advance synthetic biology.”

This is the seventh year GenScript has sponsored the worldwide synthetic biology competition. Teams previously sponsored by GenScript teams have won gold and silver medals.

All iGEM teams can receive a 20% off all gene synthesis and cloning costs ordered through GenScript.

Named 2015 Breakthrough of the Year by the journal Science, the genome-editing technology CRISPR has impacted nearly every area of genetic research. GenScript began developing and offering CRISPR genome editing products and services for researchers starting in June 2013. These include target-validated gRNA constructs, a custom construct service powered by a proprietary gDNA design tool, genome-scale gRNA libraries, and mammalian cell-line editing services. The company’s partnership with Dr. Feng Zhang’s laboratory at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and its leading expertise in gene synthesis and genome editing, allow for versatility in tackling CRISPR projects. For more information on GenScript’s CRISPR services portfolio, click here.

About GenScript. GenScript is the world leader in gene synthesis, peptide, protein, and antibody research partner in the world. Since its founding in 2002, GenScript has grown exponentially through our collaboration with scientists conducting fundamental life science research, translational biomedical research, and early stage pharmaceutical development. We provide life science services and products to scientists in over 100 countries worldwide. As of today, we are recognized as having built the best-in-class capacity and capability for biological research services encompassing gene synthesis and molecular biology, peptide synthesis, custom antibodies, protein expression, antibody and protein engineering, and in vitro and in vivo pharmacology – all with the goal to Make Research Easy. For more information, visit http://www.genscript.com/.

About iGEM. iGEM is a non-profit organization that is dedicated not only to the advancement of synthetic biology, but also to the education and collaboration of all people involved. This is done through the fostering of an open community and friendly competition.

Organized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition has long been hailed as the largest Synthetic Biology competition aimed at high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. With 300 teams this year from top universities worldwide, the scale of this competition continues to grow each year. This event gives young students the opportunity to explore Synthetic Biology and its many uses in tackling everyday issues facing the world. For more information, visit iGEM.org. 

Source: messagingLAB