The Applied Synthetic Biology in Europe (ASBE8 Conference) will take place on 4–6 November 2026 at the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, UK.
Following the success of previous meetings in this series, ASBE8 will explore the wealth of applied synthetic biology research and how it is contributing to progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The meeting will bring together key partners from academia, industry and the third sector interested in using synthetic biology, engineering biology and applied microbiology to address global challenges. Sessions will be framed around the following synthetic biology application domains:
- Factory – Clean growth, Bio-based chemical/materials production, Alternative feedstocks C1, plastics, biogenic
- Pharma – Cellular therapeutics, Diagnostics, Gene/base editing, Biobased production of pharmaceuticals
- Farm and field – Improve crops, Soil augmentation, Waste treatment, Bioremediation, Biocontainment
- Computational design technologies – Proteins, circuits, systems, networks, communities and processes
Join the ASBE community to share your latest research, exchange ideas, and discover new opportunities for collaboration.
Venue
The 8th Applied Synthetic Biology in Europe conference will be held in Whitworth Art Gallery.
The venue is located in Whitworth Park in Manchester, England, just south of the University of Manchester campus. The gallery is part of the university and can be reached by public transport or a short walk from Oxford Road train station.
How to get there:
The gallery is on a major bus route and easily reached via public transport, or on foot or by bicycle:
- Walk: 30–40 min from Manchester city centre. Flat paved route, not traffic-free.
- Bike: Sheffield stands and lockers (£1 coin, refundable) both available at the gallery.
- Bus: 15, 41, 42, 43, 140–143, 147. Ask for bus stop nearest MRI, Oxford Road.
- Tram: St Peter’s Square (plus 10 minutes on the bus or approximately 30 minutes on foot).
- Train: Oxford Road (plus 10 minutes on the bus or around 25 minutes on foot).
- Car: On-street parking (maximum stay 2 hours) on Denmark Road. Nearest car park Cecil Street (M15 6GD).
Whitworth Art Gallery
The University of Manchester,
Oxford Road,
Manchester
M15 6ER
www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk
Programme
4 November – Wednesday
13:00 – 14:00 Registration
14:00 – 14:15 Welcome address
14:15 – 15:00 Opening Keynote Lecture
15:00 – 16:30 Session 1
16:30 – 17:00 Coffee break
17:00 – 18:30 Session 3
18:30 – 20:00 Poster session 1
5 November – Thursday
09:00 – 10:30 Session 4
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 13:00 Session 5
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 16:00 Session 6
16:00 – 16:30 Coffee break
16:30 – 18:00 Session 7
18:00 – 20:00 Poster session 2
6 November – Friday
09:00 – 11:00 Session 8
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break
11:30 – 12:15 Closing Keynote Lecture
12:15 – 12:45 Closing ceremony
Attendees:
Jay Champaneri
Riaan Fox
