iGEM

The International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM)

The International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) is an international organization dedicated to responsibly advancing the field of synthetic biology and building the global synthetic biology workforce through education and competition. Synthetic biology is an emerging field that applies engineering principals to biological systems. iGEM cultivates an open, collaborative and cooperative community that strives to find solutions for a healthier, more resilient and sustainable world.

The iGEM Grand Jamboree is a global expo of synthetic biology and includes the world’s biggest synthetic biology competition. iGEM 2025 was held in Paris, France, and involved more than 400 teams, including 18 Canadian teams, one of which won a Grand Prize! Jamboree competitors include high school and university students—both undergraduate and graduate—whose synthetic biology projects tackle local and global issues involving one of 15 key areas including:

• diagnostics
• therapeutics
• bioremediation
• climate change, and
• food and nutrition.

The responsible use of synthetic biology is a central tenet of iGEM competitions. iGEM competitors must assess biosafety and biosecurity risks, including dual-use potential, as they evaluate the impact of their projects beyond the laboratory. The Centre for Biosecurity is a long-standing member of the iGEM Safety and Security Committee. Committee members spend the year prior to the jamboree developing biosafety and biosecurity tools, guidance documents and policies, and reviewing safety forms submitted by iGEM teams. At the jamboree, committee members address biosafety and biosecurity issues flagged by judges and apply appropriate disciplinary actions. The Centre for Biosecurity also meets with Canadian competitors to answer questions and promote its expertise and many resources.

iGEM 2025 winners included many Canadian teams

Sixteen of the 18 Canadian teams that competed at iGEM 2025 were nominated for, and/or won, medals, awards and/or prizes. Notable winners included:

• Undergrad Grand Prize: McGill University: Cohera - A New Foundation for Engineered Multicellularity (foundational advance project). The McGill team also won a gold medal and was nominated for the Best Part Collection Prize, the Best Wiki Prize, and the Best Foundational Advance Project Award.
• The University of Calgary Team won a gold medal and the Safety and Security Award for its infectious diseases project, which involved developing a virus-detecting DNA biosensor. The Safety and Security Award is awarded to the team that best contributes to biosafety and/or biosecurity in a well-characterized/validated way. Notably, the Canadian Biosafety Standard, 3rd edition and the Canadian Biosafety Handbook, 2nd edition were used to support the extensive biosafety and biosecurity mitigation measures taken by the team.
• The University of Toronto Team won a gold medal, a Top 10 Award, the Best Therapeutics Project Award, and was nominated for the Best Model Prize for its therapeutics project, Mystiphage, to combat antimicrobial resistance.
• The Queens University Team won a gold medal, the Best Education Award, and was nominated for the Best Therapeutics Project Award for its biofilm-disrupting therapeutics project.

The full list of winners is available here.

The Centre for Biosecurity congratulates all the Canadian teams for successfully representing Canada at iGEM 2025!