Benha National University’s Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Convergent Science and Emerging Technologies (CoSET) organized an international scientific webinar on Synthetic DNA in collaboration with the Synthetic Biology Laboratory at Mansoura University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Twist Bioscience, bringing together more than 140 researchers and students from Egyptian, Arab, and European universities.
Reflecting Benha National University’s broader research and innovation strategy led by Prof. Tamer Samir, President of the University, and Prof. Mahmoud Saqr, Advisor to the University for Research and Innovation and Supervisor of the CoSET Center, the webinar highlighted the University’s growing focus on international scientific collaboration and emerging technologies research.
Coordinated by Prof. Walid El-Sharoud, Visiting Professor at CoSET’s Biotechnology Group, the webinar featured keynote presentations by George Church, one of the world’s foremost pioneers in genetic engineering, and Emily Leproust. Their presentations highlighted the latest breakthroughs in Synthetic DNA and its expanding applications across medicine, biotechnology, and advanced industry.
George Church presented several pioneering research initiatives developed by his team using synthetic DNA technologies, including organ engineering for transplantation, efforts to develop virus-resistant human genomes, anti-aging research, and scientific projects focused on restoring extinct species for future biomedical and environmental applications.
Emily Leproust highlighted Twist Bioscience’s efforts to expand global access to Synthetic DNA technologies and accelerate advances in protein design research, a field that recently gained international recognition through Nobel Prize-winning scientific achievements. She emphasized that Synthetic DNA is rapidly emerging as one of the defining technologies shaping the future of modern biotechnology.
Prof. Walid El-Sharoud noted that the webinar reflected an exceptional level of scientific engagement and research interaction, underscoring the importance of strengthening collaboration between universities, research institutions, and international biotechnology companies.
The webinar concluded with the announcement of a specialized scientific competition targeting young researchers and students. Participants will receive advanced training in designing genes capable of producing proteins with industrial and research applications, with selected designs to be synthesized free of charge by Twist Bioscience. The resulting Synthetic DNA samples will then be transferred to the Synthetic Biology Laboratory at Mansoura University for experimental application in bacterial and yeast systems, providing participants with a fully supported hands-on research experience at no cost.