Biotechnology
Dedicated researchers across three Faculties.
Major spin-out companies from our research.
Queen's Anniversary Prize for supporting strategic development of biotechnology in the UK.
Bringing science and artisanal brewing together to create a University beer with Cloudwater Brew Co.
Working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to create fairer access to life-saving medicines across the globe.
Creating a supportive ecosystem for biotechnology innovation in the north-west through the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst.
Working to scale-up sustainable manufacturing of oligonuclides to support making human therapeutics.
Investigating how healthy microbial communities can help maintain stable ecosystems and reach net zero.
Engineering biology for a sustainable world
As we look for ways to protect our environment and support the health of billions across the globe, we turn to nature’s own processes to provide the answers.
Biotechnology is enabling us to find new and more sustainable ways to produce chemicals, materials, and everyday products, by understanding and harnessing biological processes and applying them at industrial scales.
By engineering biology, we can create more environmentally friendly agricultural products, produce human therapeutics quickly and at a lower cost, and reduce carbon emissions from key industries while also divesting those industries from petrochemical feedstocks.
Supported by the internationally recognised Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, our 400+ experts are innovating solutions to key challenges in environmental sustainability, clean energy, health, and sustainable manufacturing.
Our research covers
- Sustainable farming and managing waste safely and efficiently.
- Exploring sustainable agricultural practices in food production and the use of fertilisers and pesticides.
- Utilising bioremediation to help manage environmental pollutants and maintain a healthy world.
- Harnessing natural processes to develop new energy sources to replace fossil fuels.
- Using waste as a feedstock to produce sustainable fuels and mitigate harmful GHG emissions.
- Supporting the government, businesses and our communities in divesting from fossil fuels.
- Producing medicines more efficiently without the need for harmful chemicals.
- Identifying new ways to recognise disease, accelerate diagnosis and improve patient outcomes.
- Working collaboratively across life sciences and health communities to understand and develop new ways to improve health across the world.
- Developing sustainable, efficient and cheaper production methods for everyday products.
- Using nature’s own mechanisms to uncover new manufacturing techniques and reduce our reliance on solvents and high energy-use processes.
Key institutes
Manchester Institute of Biotechnology
- Home to more than 40 research groups leading pioneering projects to advance our knowledge and use of biotechnology.
- Our academics work closely and actively with businesses to solve real-world problems.
- Our research supports strategies for the future, as well as solutions for today’s manufacturing processes.
Henry Royce Institute
- Enabling advanced materials research collaboration and strategy.
- Driving industrial collaboration and providing access to the latest facilities.
- Fostering material science skills development, training and outreach.
The Firs Environmental Research Station
- Gives our researchers access to 14 climate controlled growing compartments.
- Produces a range of different environments from tropical to sub-arctic.
- Helps to replicate conditions from around the world and conditions resulting from climate change.
Manchester Environmental Research Institute
- Established in 2018 – bringing together experts to innovate solutions to the challenges faced with a changing environment.
- Research addresses effects of environmental change on healthcare, food security, water resources and energy production.
Tomorrow Labs
Discover our cutting edge facilities where you can access the expertise and equipment you need to address your biotechnology research needs.
Events
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A Community Event on Teamwork in Research
14 May 2024, 12pm-2.30pm
Hosted by The Team Research Programme, funded by Research England, who aim to increase awareness of the Team Research (Team Science) interdisciplinary model and its value to resear.. -
Sustainable Futures Seminar: Plastics and Circular Economy in UK
30 May 2024, 2pm-3pm
This event is open to both internals and externals to The University of Manchester On Thursday 30th May 2024, Sustainable Futures will be hosting our fifth 2024 Seminar in our mon..
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General enquiries
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Research at Manchester
Find out more about the breadth and depth of research at our University.