Engineering biology is transforming healthcare and the UK is poised to play a leading role. Join the FORUM Sir Colin Dollery Lecture 2026 by Professor Susan Rosser, with cross-sector discussion chaired by Professor Dame Angela McLean, Chief Scientific Adviser. The Lecture will take place from 14.30 to 17.00 on Tuesday 2 June. Alternatively, you can register to join us in-person in Edinburgh.
What if we could programme living cells to sense disease, store information, and make decisions to treat or even prevent disease? Join us for a keynote lecture from Professor Susan Rosser, Professor of Synthetic Biology at the University of Edinburgh, as she explores how engineering biology is transforming healthcare, from diagnostics to therapeutics and beyond. From engineering “surveillance cells” that can patrol the body for early signs of disease, to developing biocomputational circuits that allow cells to process information and store memories in their DNA, her work opens a window into a future where biology itself becomes a programmable platform.
Following the lecture, Professor Dame Angela McLean DBE FRS HonFREng FMedSci, Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government, will chair a cross-sector panel discussion. Panellists will discuss the policy, regulation, investment, and innovation pathways needed to unlock the full potential of the UK’s engineering biology ecosystem—and how to implement engineering biology for the improvement of health. Panellists include:
Dr Andy Cureton, Director – Engineering Biology, Innovate UK
Professor Paul Freemont, Co-founder, Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation; Co-director, SynbiCITE; Director, London BioFoundry
Dr Velia Siciliano, Principal Investigator, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
Who should attend?
This event is designed for anyone with a stake in the future of life sciences and healthcare innovation. Expect big ideas, practical insights, and a compelling look at the biological technologies that will define the next decade.
The FORUM Sir Colin Dollery Lecture is part of the Academy’s FORUM programme, which convenes participants from across sectors to take forward national discussions on scientific opportunities, technology trends, and developments for health and life sciences. The Lecture is named in honour of Sir Colin Dollery FMedSci, who was instrumental in the creation of FORUM in his role as Treasurer in 2003.
