Group Leader, Biomanufacturing
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
Padriciano 99
34149 Trieste, Italy
E-mail: [email protected]
Education
University of Oxford, UK, DPhil in Zoology, 2015
University of Cambridge, UK, BA in Natural Sciences (Zoology), 2010
Career History
Since 2021, Senior Research Associate, University of Cambridge
2018-2021, Shuttleworth Foundation Fellow, University of Cambridge
2015-2018, Synthetic Biology Strategic Initiatives Manager, University of Cambridge
Scientific Activity
I develop toolkits and protocols for distributed biomanufacturing of enzymes in low- and middle-income countries. I then partners with local researchers to apply these technologies to health and sustainability applications. I particularly focus on the development of molecular diagnostic tests for infectious diseases, and to sustainable bioprocessing for economically-important industries.
Beyond technical development, I undertake research and policy work to examine the role and impact of open approaches to intellectual property and local manufacturing for the global bioeconomy. This includes working with international and intergovernmental organisations, civil society and governments to shape policy agendas and create enabling environments for bio-based innovation to thrive.
Teaching Activity
Guest Lecturer, University of Cambridge Chemical Engineering Part IIB (Chemical Product Design) and Engineering Part IIB (3G Molecular Engineering I)
Enzyme Manufacturing Masterclass is a one-week course that we developed and deliver 2-3 times per year in partnership with different universities and research institutes.
Selected Publications
Bird, A., Molloy, J.C., Hall, E.A.H. Biocatalytic Synthesis of 2’-Deoxynucleotide 5’-Triphosphates from Bacterial Genomic DNA: Proof of Principle (2023). Biotechnology and Bioengineering (accepted)
Sundaram, L., Ajioka, J., Molloy, J.C. Synthetic Biology Regulation in Europe: Containment, Release, and Beyond (2023). Synthetic Biology (accepted)
Guzman-Chavez, F., Arce, A., Adhikari, A., Vadhin, S., Pedroza-Garcia, J. A., Gandini, C., …Haseloff, J. Constructing Cell-Free Expression Systems for Low-Cost Access (2022). ACS synthetic biology, 11(3), 1114-1128.
Arce, A., Guzman Chavez, F., Gandini, C., Puig, J., Matute, T., Haseloff, J., Dalchau, N., Molloy, J., Pardee, K., & Federici, F. Decentralizing Cell-Free RNA Sensing With the Use of Low-Cost Cell Extracts (2021). Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (Vol. 9).
Bhadra, S., Nguyen, V., Torres, J.A., Kar, S., Fadanka, S., Gandini, C., Akligoh, H., Paik, I., Maranhao, A.C., Molloy, J. & Ellington, A.D. Producing molecular biology reagents without Purification (2021). PloS one, 16(6), e0252507.
Matute, T., Nunez, I., Rivera, M., Reyes, J., Bl azquez-Śanchez, P., Arce, A., Brown, A.J., Gandini, C., Molloy, J., Ramirez-Sarmiento, C.A. & Federici, F. Homebrew reagents for low cost RT-LAMP (2021). Journal of Biomolecular Techniques: JBT.
Contreras, J. L., Eisen, M., Ganz, A., Lemley, M., Molloy, J., Peters, D. M., & Tietze, F. Pledging intellectual property for COVID-19 (2020). Nature Biotechnology, 38(10), 1146–1149.
Tietze, F., Vimalnath, P., Aristodemou, L., & Molloy, J. Crisis-Critical Intellectual Property: Findings from the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020). IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.
Maia Chagas, A., Molloy, J. C., Prieto-Godino, L. L., & Baden, T. Leveraging open hardware to alleviate the burden of COVID-19 on global health systems (2020). Plos Biology, 18(4), E3000730.
Kahl, L., Molloy, J., Patron, N., Matthewman, C., et al. Expanding Options for Science & Translation via the Open Material Transfer Agreement (2018). Nature Biotechnology. 36, 923 –927
Wintle, B. C., Boehm, C. R., Rhodes, C., Molloy, J. C., et al. A transatlantic perspective on 20 emerging issues in biological engineering (2017). eLife, 6.