Research Program

CBiRC is uniquely focused on integrating biological and chemical catalysis systems to build a framework for producing industrial chemicals from biorenewable sources. To achieve this, CBiRC has organized into four interdependent research areas:

• Biocatalysis
• Microbial Engineering
• Chemical Catalysis
• Life-Cycle Assessment

Engineering Platform

CBiRC is basing its biocatalysis efforts on the fatty acid or polyketide biosynthetic pathway with a goal of enhancing microbial production through targeted engineering. Combining biocatalysis with chemical catalysis opens the door to the fatty acid or polyketide-based platform chemicals (examples include dienes and á-olefins) at the heart of CBiRC’s vision. All of this will be assessed in terms of a holistic life-cycle analysis addressing both economics and carbon renewability. Together, these programs are delivering new concepts that will be evaluated in test-beds for the proof-of-concept needed to evaluate production potential.