Extremophile Engineering Biology for Applications in Extreme and Low-Resource Environments

Extremophiles are extraordinary microbes that thrive in some of the harshest conditions on Earth – they can be found in the Yellowstone hot springs, at the deepest points in our oceans, underneath the ice caps in Antarctica and even in normal soil in our cities. These remarkable creatures have unique physiological features that allow them to survive and function where most other life forms cannot. My research aims to uncover these special adaptations and utilise them to develop new healthcare technologies. Traditional biological systems (involving normal cells) struggle to operate in harsh environments which include remote areas of our planet, least developed/developing countries and outer space. For example, medicines degrade faster in the high-radiation and low-gravity conditions of space. So, if they can be made by the extremophiles that can survive the harsh conditions in space, we can take extremophiles instead! However, programming extremophiles to make medicines or food can be challenging - I want to overcome some of these through this fellowship. I plan on studying these organisms in detail to understand their unique survival mechanisms. Then, I will choose combinations to focus on, and genetically modify the extremophiles for specific applications (e.g. therapeutic or sensing). Lastly, I will design this technology such that it can be used easily by everyone – particularly those without a science/research background. I have expertise in developing similar technologies from my PhD in Astropharmacy (University of Nottingham) and more recently through my postdoctoral work (Imperial College London). During my PhD, I developed and tested new technologies, including an experiment that will be sent to space next year. Skills from both these experiences will be crucial in achieving this project's multidisciplinary goals and unlocking new possibilities for healthcare in extreme environments and equitable healthcare for those in low resource environments.