Shalini Yadav, executive director of the Rice Synthetic Biology Institute (RSBI), met with state legislative offices at the Texas Capitol Sept. 25-26 to raise awareness of the critical role synthetic biology plays in advancing Texas’ research and development initiatives. Joined by representatives from the Greater Houston Partnership, Texas Southern University and San Jacinto College, Yadav emphasized the importance of synthetic biology for meeting the state’s future manufacturing, energy, life sciences, aerospace and technology needs.
“Synthetic biology has the potential to transform industries across Texas and create solutions for some of the state’s most pressing challenges,” Yadav said. “By working closely with policymakers, we hope to foster a supportive environment for research and innovation that will ensure Texas remains at the forefront of these transformative technologies.”
RSBI, which launched in January, aims to catalyze collaborative efforts that translate into technological advancements with real-world applications. Synthetic biology, an interdisciplinary field where researchers design and redesign living systems with new properties to address societal needs, has far-reaching implications across industries.
RSBI focuses on areas such as living materials, living therapeutics and living electronics, leveraging Rice University’s unique innovations to benefit society through advancements in medicine, sustainability and information technology.