Joint BaSyC and EVOLF Fall meeting
On 19 and 20 December 2024 we gathered for our first joint BaSyC and EVOLF Fall meeting in Amsterdam. This joint meeting gave us the opportunity to meet again as BaSyC scientists and discuss the starting phase of the 10-year EVOLF programme.
EVOLF is the most recent chapter in the history of the ‘synthetic cell research community’ in the Netherlands. It builds upon two previous NWO-Gravitation consortia: BaSyC (2017-2027) the first Dutch national research programme to build a synthetic cell and NanoFront (2013-2023).
BaSyC laid the foundation for synthetic cell research and positioned the Netherlands as a leader in synthetic biology. NanoFront pioneered a toolbox for nanoscience research and provided the seed concept of bottom-up synthetic cells.
Both programmes produced high-impact science and together trained 80 PhD students and postdocs.
EVOLF will further strengthen national synergy in the field and provide an even stronger platform for the Netherlands to lead this field worldwide.
EVOLF is pioneering a bottom-up approach to synthetic biology, leveraging the latest advancements in AI and evolutionary principles. Many team members already closely collaborate within the BaSyC programme. The EVOLF team also includes new members with the expertise required to move beyond BaSyC’s rational design approach.
We are excited about the future and will keep you informed about our new developments.
