A major new Canadian initiative on the use of enzymes for environmentally sound manufacturing processes was announced today and will be led by ChemE Professor Elizabeth Edwards.
The Industrial Biocatalysis Network (IBN) is a 5-year, $5 million project involving nine researchers from U of T, Concordia University and the University of British Columbia, as well as six industrial partner from manufacturing sectors as diverse as animal feed, forestry, oil and gas, and commodity chemicals.
The IBN includes ChemE Professors Emma Master, Radhakrishnan Mahadevan, Alexei Savchenko and Alexander Yakunin, who will bring their bioengineering expertise to bear of the task of discovering new enzymes for use in industrial processes. Their goal is to develop bio-based processes that will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and decrease our environmental footprint.