Part 1: A nose for discovery: the science and bio-nano-technology of membrane proteins

Part 2: Lab to Market – The MIT way

Andreas Mershin
Leader, Label-Free Research Group
Center for Bits and Atoms
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
mershin@mit.edu

Tuesday 12/7/2016, 11:30 am

“Koumoutsos” Hall, School of Chemical Engineering

Abstract

Part 1: A nose for (drug) discovery: the science and bio-nano-technology of membrane proteins

Presentation of the development of synthetic olfactory receptors and their application in multiple uses, from diagnostics to drug discovery.

This talk will discuss how the lessons we learned from building the world’s most efficient PS-I biophotovoltaic opened the door to using synthetic Olfactory Receptors in bioelectronic noses with applications ranging from diagnostics to drug discovery. We will cover how new experimental methods are challenging our basic understanding of olfaction and help navigate headlines such as “humans can discriminate over one trillion/no more than 5000 odors”, “is it shape or vibration?”, “analytical or synthetic?”, “chemical or spectral?”, “combinatorial or emergent?”, “classical or quantum?”.

Part 2: Lab to Market – The MIT way

Presentation of MIT’s strategy for promoting and supporting academic research and innovation and its connection to entrepreneurship. Discussion of issues related to Intellectual Property for new business models. Exploring issues related to academic freedom in the exchange of ideas and publications and restrictions on patents and innovation in startups/spinoffs.

Short CV

Andreas Mersin is the coordinator of the Label Free Research Group at the Center for Bits and Atoms at MIT. He is a patent holder, entrepreneur in the field of biophotovoltaic systems and biosensors, and Program Manager of a major international interdisciplinary collaboration for the development of nano-bioelectronic photovoltaic and chemical sensor applications using semiconductors with integrated membrane proteins.

He is co-founder of the Hellenic Business Network’s “Big Idea” business plan competition, co-founder of the Molecular Frontiers Foundation (a subsidiary of the Nobel Foundation) of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and Coordinator of the international Molecular Frontiers Inquiry Prize competition, which is awarded annually to the best scientific questions from children.

The Abstract and Short Biography are here.