Synthetic Biology and Cancer: Progress and Promise Webinar Series
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) launched the Synthetic Biology and Cancer Program in 2021 to advance innovative, transdisciplinary approaches to cancer research. Over five years, six collaborative projects have explored new synthetic biology strategies aimed at earlier cancer detection, overcoming therapeutic resistance, and enhancing immunotherapy across multiple cancer types. The upcoming Synthetic Biology and Cancer: Progress and Promise Webinar Series will share findings from these efforts, highlighting technical advances, translational insights, and future directions in the field.
The virtual webinar series will take place monthly from June through November 2026, with sessions held on the second Thursday of each month.
Topics include:
- June 11, 2026: AND-gated protease nanosensors for programmable detection of anti-tumor immunity
- July 9, 2026: Immunotherapy via engineered therapeutic programs in tumors using RNA
- August 13, 2026: Engineering Native E. coli to Detect, Report, and Treat Colorectal Cancer
- September 10, 2026: Selection Gene Drives for Cancer Therapy
- October 8, 2026: Precise tumor targeting with logic CAR circuits
- November 12, 2026: Synthetic circuits that drive infiltration of therapeutic T cells into immunologically cold tumors
This series provides an overview of ongoing research and emerging applications of synthetic biology in cancer.
Visit the event page for more information.