As in previous years, Cornell iGEM remains a student-run team undergraduate team. We created and applied our 2020 project entirely on our own. Lumicure is a completely original concept that takes inspiration from current trends in bacteriotherapy and its potential application in cancer treatment.
Because of the unforeseen, strenuating circumstances regarding the 2020 competition cycle due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Cornell iGEM would like to commend and give special thanks to all of our members who have continued to contribute to Lumicure for their perseverance, grit and determination.
Their ambitions, actions and accomplishments in spite of these trying times exemplify CU iGEM’s mission: the promotion and harnessing of synthetic biology to better the world, whatever the circumstance.
The Wet Lab team designed the genetic circuit, and predicted its behavior using mathematical modeling. They developed models for molecular mechanisms, derived differential equations, solved them, and integrated those results into further development of the genetic circuit. They also examined the context in which this therapy would exist, as well as safety concerns with the therapy.
The Product Development team designed Trichoscan, a self-scanning device for the detection and monitoring of tumor growth through fluorescence readings. They created a CAD design and mathematically modeled readable depth. They used their findings from the model to inform them on design choices. They also looked at the effects of differences such as skin color on their design.
The Policy and Practices (P&P) team worked to contact experts knowledgeable on the subject of breast cancer and breast cancer treatments as well as community members affected by breast cancer. Additionally, the P&P team also started and participated in different virtual outreach and educational initiatives promoting synbio awareness.
The Business team formed comparative cost and market analyses for Lumicure, and documented it’s potential future development and relevance in the future field of cancer bacteriotherapy. The team also set short-term and long-term goals of promoting this new field of treatment, with the end intention of making Lumicure available as a practical, affordable and available therapeutic tool.
The Wiki team translated all our ideas and work onto digital canvas. This includes our website, poster, and all published promotional materials.
Lumicure would not have been made possible without the guidance of the our faculty as well as the organizations, and authorities we have worked with:
- Dr. Jan Lammerding, PhD, associate professor and director of graduate studies at the Cornell Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering and associate at the Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology for his continued support and consultation for the team’s operations. His active guidance and advice on our experimental designs, feasibility and research have been invaluable.
- Dr. Ben Cosgrove, PhD, assistant professor at the Cornell Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering for his help and mentorship of the wetlab team this year.
Additionally, we'd like to thank:
- Dr. Amelia Safi, PhD, joint fellow at the Cornell Communications Department and Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine
- Dr. Claudia Fischbach, PhD, director of the Cornell Center on the Physics of Cancer Metabolism
- Dr. Lisa Newman, MD, MPH, FACS, FASCO, surgical oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine
- Dr. Tracy Brooks, PhD, fellow of the Pharmaceutical Sciences and Menner Family Endowed Faculty at SUNY Binghamton
- Dr. Warren Zipfel, PhD, associate professor at the Cornell Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering and Director of the Developmental Resource for Biophysical Imaging and Optoelectronics (DRBIO)
for providing us with their professional opinions and valued insight regarding the potential application and implementation of Lumicure.
- Ms. Barbara Demorest, founder of the nonprofit organization Knitted Knockers that provides comfortable breast prosthetics to post-mastectomy patients
- Ms. Pallawi Verma, a Cornell iGEM parent
For recounting to us their personal experiences dealing with breast cancer and giving us inspiration for making a difference in the field of breast cancer treatment.
Lastly, we’d like to thank the following for their help and guidance:
- Integrated DNA technologies for generously donating base pairs
- Cornell's College of Engineering for the platform to participate in iGEM.