The Cambridge iGEM team won a Gold Medal at the 2025 iGEM Grand Jamboree. Their project ‘CamiRa’ aimed to develop a cheap, fast and accessible tool for on-farm crop diagnosis.
What is iGEM?
iGEM stands for International Genetically Engineered Machine and is the world’s largest synthetic biology competition and community. The competition involves teams of students spending the summer within the lab tackling an important problem that can be solved with synthetic biology. The process is similar to founding and building a biotech start-up, including coming up with an idea, and implementing it in the lab. It requires working on many varied aspects of a project, including computational modelling, communicating with interested stakeholders, education, fundraising and even presenting findings at an international conference!
Cambridge has a long history with iGEM and was the first team to compete in 2005.
Getting involved
To know more about iGEM at Cambridge or to get involved with future Cambridge iGEM teams, please get in touch with the Cambridge University Synthetic Biology Society, who will be hosting information, brainstorming and team-selection sessions during Lent Term 2023. To connect with them and to view the current assignment set for those interested in joining the 2023 Cambridge iGEM team, please visit: https://linktr.ee/cusynbiosoc
Previous Projects
Full details of projects from previous years can be found here:
iGEM2022 - Genetically encoded integral controller
iGEM2016 - Tools for easier engineering of algal chloroplasts
iGEM2015 - Low cost 3D printed automated microscope
iGEM2014 - Marchantia for synthetic biosensor plants
iGEM2012 - New standards for biosensor development
iGEM2011 - Reflectins for creating iridescent biological systems
iGEM2010 - E. glowli, new bioluminescent systems
iGEM2009 - E. chromi, multispectral biopigments for biosensors
iGEM2008 - iBrain, electrical signalling and communication
iGEM2007 - Bacteria Online, microbial patterning
iGEM2006 - Self-organisation in bacteria populations
iGEM2005 - Artificial chemotaxis
Latest updates from Cambridge iGEM
The Cambridge iGEM team won a Gold Medal and received a nomination for the ‘Best Hardware’ special prize in the Undergrad Category at the 2024 iGEM Grand Jamboree. Their project ‘MaGenTa’ worked on developing tools for magnetogenetics, an approach using magnetic fields to remotely and precisely control gene activation.