"Scientists study the world as it is; engineers create the world that has never been."
- Theodore von Kármán
The Molecular Programming Research Group is a team of scientist-engineers focused on the development of new biotechnologies using DNA as an engineering material. We are part of the Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. Our group is led by Dr. Ian Hoffecker, a specialist in polymer engineering, DNA nanotechnology, and the physics of computation.
DNA is not only the carrier of genetic information in living organisms, but also a programmable polymer that can be artificially synthesized with unique properties that make it an ideal material for engineering at the nanoscale. By exploiting the predictable base-pairing interactions of DNA, we can design and construct complex molecular systems that perform specific functions, opening up new possibilities in biotechnology, medicine, and materials science.
These days, sequencing DNA is faster and cheaper than ever before, enabling new ways to read out information encoded in DNA molecules. Our thesis is simple: so long as humans inhabit biological bodies, DNA will remain a relevant molecular information processing vehicle, and the ecoysystem of tools for analyzing and manipulating it will continue to grow in power and accessibility.
By treating DNA as a programmable material, we can create new capabilities for sensing, analyzing, and manipulating nanoscale, biological, and even artificial systems.
SciLifeLab
Our group is located in Stockholm in the Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) Campus Solna, an ambitious institution established as a cooperation between KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Karolinska Institutet, and Stockholm University with the goal of advancing life sciences and fostering collaboration between academics, healthcare, and industry. The institute gathers a community of researchers spanning many disciplines, hosts multiple national infrastructure platforms, and is a hub for international collaborations.
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KTH Royal Institute of Technology
We are a member of the acclaimed Gene Technology Department in the School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Its origins established in 1697, KTH is Sweden's top technical research and education institution, a major European node for innovation, and one of the world's highest ranked universities.
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Acknowledgements
Our group's work is made possible by generous funding from the EU European Research Council (ERC), the European Innovation Council (EIC), the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW), the Novo Nordisk Foundation, by Swedish taxpayers via the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet), the Åke Wiberg Foundation, SciLifeLab's Research Environment Development fund, and KTH's CBH School.
We are proud member of the DNA Computing community and International Society for Nanoscale Science, Computation and Engineering. Learn more:
