Meet Imperial’s 2026 iGem team: reGelerate
The Imperial iGEM 2026 team, reGelerate, is preparing to compete in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM), the world’s largest annual synthetic biology contest. Bringing together interdisciplinary student teams from across the globe, iGEM challenges participants to develop innovative research projects that address real-world issues in areas such as healthcare, sustainability, and biotechnology. The competition culminates in the Grand Jamboree in Paris this November, where the team will present their work to an international panel of judges.
This year, Imperial’s team consists of 12 students from the Faculties of Natural Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering. Their project focuses on developing an ordered, self-healing hydrogel using non-pathogenic fungal prions. The material could act as a scaffold for immobilising proteins such as antibodies and enzymes, with potential industrial biotechnology applications ran-ging from biofuel production to bioremediation.
Alongside laboratory research, the team is developing a computational toolbox to model prion aggregation dynamics, which will enable researchers and students to examine how different factors influence gel formation, structure, and mechanical strength.
Beyond the science, public engagement is a key part of the project. The team has already launched their social media campaigns, will be showcasing their project at this year’s Great Exhibition Festival, and is preparing for a packed summer of outreach, including a social mixer at Metric and a mini iGEM Jamboree. Through educational activities and community events, reGelerate aims to make synthetic biology more accessible and to inspire wider discussion about its role in society.
