Our work is broadly on two topics: synthetic biology (design and construction of novel cellular devices in living cells, to alter and control their behaviour) and systems biology (the dynamics and behaviour of cells and cellular networks).  To date, we work exclusively in microorganisms (bacteria and yeast).

Synthetic biology

The rapidly growing field of synthetic biology represents an effort to implement engineering at the cellular level.  We have focused on transcriptional regulatory networks in bacteria and yeast, creating a number of novel systems to: cure bacteria of an otherwise lethal viral disease; implement logical operators and variable signal-response curves; hook into and modify natural signalling pathways such as the extracellular glucose detection system in E. coli; and implement integral feedback control.  Our experimental work is accompanied and guided by modelling at various levels, from detailed biochemical kinetic models (stochastic or deterministic) to higher-level approaches inspired by control theory.

Systems biology

We are interested in modelling of gene expression dynamics, and being armed with a molecular biology wet lab allows us to combine our modelling with experimental work.  Our work to date has often focused on the link between model and experiment: a number of non-obvious complications can arise when making comparisons between model outputs and experimental results.

A poster with some more information about our research and general approach may be found  here (poster-sized PDF).