OpenBio - Open Source Biotech

We are announcing openbio - an organisation with a simple goal: to make gene therapy open-source, & significantly expedite longevity research.

We started our lab operations 5 months ago, and are developing minicircles with an intention to completely open source our research in the process. We are 50% there, and expect to achieve our goal in the next 4 months.

Minicircles are the most fundamental block of gene therapy and sharing it with the scientific community will have the biggest impact on longevity research & cancer therapy.

Why Minicircles Matter

Gene therapy is transforming how we treat diseases, but existing tools like plasmids and viral vectors come with challenges. That's where minicircles step in as a powerful alternative. Here's why they're so important:

• Higher Efficiency

  Minicircles are derived from plasmids but are much smaller because they don't carry unnecessary bacterial DNA. This streamlined design allows them to deliver genes more effectively into cells, resulting in higher protein expression. For therapies requiring strong and sustained gene activity, minicircles outperform traditional plasmids.

• Better Safety

  Unlike viral vectors, minicircles don't integrate into the genome. This eliminates the risk of accidental changes to a cell's DNA (a problem called insertional mutagenesis). They're also less likely to trigger immune reactions, making them a safer choice for clinical use.

• Broad Applications

  Minicircles are versatile. They're being explored for:

  • Gene therapy for longevity research & genetic disorders.
  • DNA vaccines for diseases like cancer or infectious illnesses.
  • Cell reprogramming to create stem cells safely.

Who are we?

We are a team of 5 researchers based out of Centre for Cellular & Molecular Platforms (CCAMP), Bengaluru, India - working to build safe & open-source tools for gene therapy.

Over the next few weeks: we will share our progress, roadblocks, & findings.