SYNBIOLOGY - An Analysis of Synthetic Biology Research in Europe and North America 4,5/4,5 CM SYNBIOLOGY: An Analysis of Synthetic Biology Research in Europe and North America Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America 30th May 2006 European Commission, Brussels

SYNBIOLOGY Brussels, 30 May 2006 Major Observations Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America - -No centralized funding initiative in synthetic biology exists - -Bottom up approach, i.e., investigator initiated proposals/projects - -Still a new field - -Some discussion starting about possible call for proposals in the subject field (i.e., Department of Energy)

SYNBIOLOGY Brussels, 30 May 2006 Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America - -Federal government agencies - -State agencies - -Venture capital funds - -Foundations - -Private companies - -University/Research Institute funds Funding Sources in the US

SYNBIOLOGY Brussels, 30 May 2006 Federal Government Agencies Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America - -National Institutes of Health - -National Cancer Institute (NCI) - -National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) - -National Institute of General and Medical Sciences (NIGMS) - -National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) - -Roadmap program - -Nanomedicine program - -NIH Cancer Biology Training Grants program

SYNBIOLOGY Brussels, 30 May 2006 Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America - -Department of Commerce - -National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - -Army Research Office - -Office of Naval Research (United States Navy) - -Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs - -National Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC, Canada) Federal Government Agencies (2)

SYNBIOLOGY Brussels, 30 May 2006 Federal Government Agencies (3) Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America - -National Science Foundation - -Investigator Career Awards - -Division Programs (i.e., Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences) - -Department of Energy - -Department of Defense - -Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) - -Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) - -National Aeronautics and Space Agency

SYNBIOLOGY Brussels, 30 May 2006 State Agencies Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America - -A number of states have initiatives to fund biological/life sciences research. - -California Stem Cell Research Initiative - -UC Discovery Grants - -Maryland Nanobiotechnology Initiative - -Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program - -Pennsylvania Ben Franklin Funds - -State Universities funding

SYNBIOLOGY Brussels, 30 May 2006 Venture Capital Funds Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America - -Examples (including from SB2.0 in Berkeley) - -CMEA Ventures - -Khosla Ventures - -Flagship Ventures - -Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers - -Mohr Davidow Ventures

SYNBIOLOGY Brussels, 30 May 2006 Foundations Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America - -The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation - -The Burroughs Wellcome Foundation - -The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation - -The Beckmann Foundation - -The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation - -The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation - -The Skirball Foundation - -The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - -The Pew Foundation

SYNBIOLOGY Brussels, 30 May 2006 Private Companies Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America - -Examples (including from SB2.0 in Berkeley) - -Merck & Co. - -Microsoft Research - -Coda Genomics - -Codon Devices - -DNA Blue Heron Technologies - -Amyris Biotechnologies

SYNBIOLOGY Brussels, 30 May 2006 University/Research Institute Funds Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America - -Funds can be obtained from a variety of sources - -State appropriations - -Tuition and fees revenues - -Indirect cost recovery from research grants - -Patent royalties and licensing fees - -Equity investment in start-up companies - -Endowment funds

SYNBIOLOGY Brussels, 30 May 2006 University/Research Institute Funds (2) Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America - -Company contributions (equipment, fellowships, non-designated research funds, etc.) - -Entrepreneurial activities (training programs, renting of facilities and equipment, services to outside companies, etc.)

SYNBIOLOGY Brussels, 30 May 2006 University/Research Institute Funds (3) Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America - -Examples (including from SB2.0) - -Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory - -University of Delaware - -California Institute of Technology - -City of Hope Cancer Center - -Grubstake Program (Caltech) - -Howard Hughes Medical Institute - -University of California San Francisco Cancer Program - -Harvard University

SYNBIOLOGY Brussels, 30 May 2006 Key Stakeholder Comments Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America - -Funding for post-docs is especially needed - -Funding needed for training courses - -Funding for collaborations between 2-3 parties is very productive and should be encouraged vis-à-vis funding for large consortia, especially in international projects - -Synthetic Biology research is expensive and long term; funding cycles of 3-5 years are the norm - -Flexibility for researchers to allocate funds within grants is very desirable

SYNBIOLOGY Brussels, 30 May 2006 Funding of Synthetic Biology in North America - -Funding agencies are hard-pressed for funds; it will be helpful if senior administrators in funding agencies create special funding/groups for Synthetic Biology - -It will be very helpful if more joint meetings are organized between the US and the EU, with administrators from funding agencies attending as well - -Increased expertise in synthetic biology needs to be encouraged for reviewers in funding agencies, patent examiners, and legal counsel Key Stakeholder Comments (2)