City St George's, School of Health & Medical Sciences (Tooting) is at the forefront of developments in molecular farming – the manufacture of high-value products using plant biotechnology. One such approach is Pharma-Factory – a research project to advance medical, veterinary and diagnostic products using new technologies with plants called molecular farming.
Despite advances in recent years, molecular farming in Europe has struggled to win public acceptance since the commercialisation of genetically modified (GM) food. This public reluctance has influenced regulations and limited commercialisation of all GM technologies, including plant molecular farming to produce medical products.
In this context, Pharma-Factory, alongside the London College of Communication (University of the Arts, London), are together using a highly collaborative and innovative approach to bring together scientists, government, members of the public and patients to address this public reluctance to embrace this new technology.
The collaboration is bringing these groups together to identify potential barriers and facilitators to the commercialisation of plant molecular farming technologies and, from there, co-develop tools to help exchange knowledge, improve communication and foster common understandings in order to reduce barriers to acceptance.
Discussing the potential for molecular farming with member of the public at the London Design Festival Bio-design Here Now! exhibit in Shephard's Bush London (Sept 2018).
Scientists and technologists identifying current and future stakeholders in the scale-up of their products
Clinical experts map how patient experiences may change as a result of new diagnostics created with molecular farming technology.
Discussing the potential for molecular farming with member of the public at the London Design Festival Bio-design Here Now! exhibit in Shephard's Bush London (Sept 2018).
Scientists and technologists identifying current and future stakeholders in the scale-up of their products
Clinical experts map how patient experiences may change as a result of new diagnostics created with molecular farming technology.