Purton Lab

Our research combines molecular-genetic, biochemical, biophysical and engineering approaches to investigate various basic and applied aspects of algal biology.

Purton Lab - Algal Biology and Biotechnology

Current research includes:

Developing the algal chloroplast as a platform for production of therapeutic proteins and novel metabolites
Exploring the re-design and re-programming of the chloroplast genome using synthetic biology approaches
Developing algae as low-cost, oral delivery systems for aquaculture and as bio-insecticides
Understanding the regulation of organelle gene expression by nuclear-encoded factors
Enhancing the nutritional content and palatability of edible cyanobacteria and algae

Latest lab news

March 2020

Many congratulations to Dr Lamya Al Haj (Assistant Professor at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman) who has been chosen for a highly prestigious ‘Young Global Leader’ award by the World Economic Forum. Lamya did her PhD in the Purton Group (2010–2014) working on the development of cyanobacteria as industrial biotech platforms. Lamya founded a speakers’ platform in the Gulf region “Jalasat Mulhimoon” to showcase role models and inspire younger generations. She has spoken at conferences and corporate events including Harvard and IMD Middle East Alumni conferences on leadership. She was recently selected as a judge for an MIT based competition “Innovators under 35” organized by MIT Technology Review.

Professor Saul Purton has been awarded a £10,000 International Workshop grant from the BBSRC to support the 2^nd Sino-British Forum on Algal Biotechnology, which will be held in Oban, Scotland later this year as part of the Algae-UK annual conference. This workshop builds on a very successful forum held in Wuhan in 2018 that brought together leading Chinese and UK academics and companies working on algal biotechnology.

October 2019

Welcome to Julanie Stapelberg, who will be undertaking her PhD with the Purton group. Julanie’s PhD project will investigate the production of sweet proteins in the algal chloroplast. Julanie graduated from the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, and her PhD studies are supported by a prestigious scholarship from the Skye Foundation and an Overseas Research Scholarship from UCL.

September 2019

Welcome to Anaëlle Vilatte, who will be working as a Research Assistant jointly between the Purton group and Dr Brenda Parker’s group from the Department of Biochemical Engineering at UCL. Anaëlle will be continuing the work of Dr Xenia Spencer-Milnes. We would like to thank Xenia for all her efforts and we wish her every success for the future.

April 2019

Congratulations to Professor Saul Purton and the Algae Research Group at UCL for gaining membership to the European Algae Biomass Association (EABA). The EABA aims to develop the research, technology and industrial potential of algae based research in the field of biomass production and use, by promoting and building on mutual cooperation between members.

Welcome to Dr Kirstin Covington who will be taking on the role of Network Manager for Algae-UK. Kirstin was the Network Manager for the BBSRC's "Plant-to-Products" network and prior to that she was Head of Technical Development at TMO Renewables. Algae-UK is one of six phase II Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (NIBB) supported by the BBSRC and aims to foster closer links between academics and industry working on algal research. Professor Saul Purton is the Director of Algae-UK.

Algae UK follows the successful completion of the PHYCONET Network which ended on 31^st December 2018. PHYCONET was a BBSRC phase I NIBB with Professor Saul Purton as Director and Dr Janet Waterhouse as Network Manager. We would like to thank Janet for all her hard work and dedication to PHYCONET and we wish her the very best for the future.

Contact us:

Professor Saul Purton
Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology (Darwin Building)
University College London
Gower Street
London
WC1E 6BT
Tel: +44 (0)20 7679 2675
Email: s.purton@ucl.ac.uk

Director of Algae-UK: a BBSRC network in industrial biotechnology & bioenergy

https://www.algae-uk.org.uk/