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Our services

The Stellenbosch Biofoundry provides access to state-of-the-art equipment and expertise to fast-track your research and development ​​​towards global competitiveness. Our suite of services are designed to support the full spectrum of synthetic biology and biotechnology research:

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Full DNA sequence to benchtop bioprocess development

The Stellenbosch Biofoundry provides full-scope strain and bioprocess development services conducted by our researchers. You supply the protein sequence and its intended application, and we use our in-house screening technology to identify optimal clones in a high-throughput, protein-agnostic manner. We can also handle any section of the bioengineering pipeli​ne as contracted.​

Automated DNA Assembly and Cloning​​

A high-throughput, automat​​ed DNA assembly and cloning platform for rapidly constructing engineered strains from DNA parts and libraries. This includes tools ​like Gibson Assembly, Golden Gate Assembly, and other relevant techniques.​

In vitro transcription a​nd RNA synthesis 

Our team’s specialised expertise in in vitro transcription and RNA synthesis enables them to meet a diverse array of needs. 

Ass​​ay design and development ​

​​Biofoundry researchers can be contracted to assist users in developing assays for their molecule of interest. ISO accreditation is coming soon.​

​Small scale, high-throughput strain selection and bioprocess development​

​Our parallel, high-throughput mini bioreactors (2 ml) are available for screening and selecting the best-performing strains or transformants under controlled conditions, and can lead into subsequ​​ent bioprocess development. We offer both aerobic and anaerobic options, with batch and fed-batch configurations. Coming soon.​

Bioactivity testing ​

Previously prepared samples can be sent to the biofoundry for testing against a standard panel of cell lines. We conduct industry-standard assays to dete​​rmine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The facility is accredited to handle genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and Risk/Hazard Group 1 and 2 agents. We can also pair antimicrobial susceptibility testing with cytotoxicity assays against preferred cell lines.​

Rental packa​ges 

​​Rental package A: Colony plater, liquid handler, colony picker

Rental package B: Liquid handler, plate reader

Rental package C: High-throughput parallel bioreactor system​​​​​​​​ (coming soon)

The biofoundry serves a diverse range of industries 

and applic​​​ations, including:​​​​

​	​He​althcare  Accelerating the development of new therapies, vaccines, and diagnostic tools.​​​​
​	​​Agriculture Innovating i​​​n ​​​sustainable crop production, pest control, and soil health.
​	​​​​Energy Developing b​​iofuels​​ and bioprocesses that contribute to cleaner energy solutions.​
​  ​	​​​Manufacturing ​​Enhancing industri​​al bioprocesses for the production of chemicals, materials, and food products.​
​  ​	​​​Biotechnology startups Providing the in​​frastructure and expertise needed to scale innovative biotech ideas into market-ready solutions.​​​

The Stellenbosch Biofoundry is comm​​itted to driving biote​​chnology innovation in Africa and beyond. By providing cutting-edge facilities and services, we empower researchers to push the boundaries of what's p​​ossible in synthetic biology and biotechnology, ultimately contributing to sustainable development and global competitiveness.

Whether you are a researcher, a ​startup, or an established company, the Stellenbosch Biofoundry is here to support your journey from concept to commercialisation. Contact us​ today to learn how we can help you achieve your research and development goals.​