Lukas Schmidheini

Directed protein evolution is a technique that uses iterative rounds of mutation and selection to evolve proteins with improved or new functions. 

Traditional methods of directed protein evolution, however, can be labour-intensive and time-consuming as they often involve discrete rounds of mutation and selection, limiting the efficiency of exploring vast protein sequence spaces. Continuous directed protein evolution systems address these limitations by automating the process and allowing the evolution to occur in a continuous manner without the need for repeated manual interventions. This continuous approach significantly accelerates the evolution process, enables more extensive exploration of sequence variations, and can lead to the rapid discovery of proteins with highly optimized functions. Despite its potential, the complexity and resource intensity of setting up functional continuous systems have limited its broader adoption.  

Lukas Schmidheini develops and refines specialized miniature hardware devices that simplify performing continuous directed evolution strategies using unicellular model organisms.  

Such a device intends to bridge the gap between complex biotechnological protocols and everyday laboratory practices. It provides a robust and accessible tool that enhances the capabilities of researchers in the evolving landscape of protein engineering, thereby accelerating advancements in medical and biotechnological research. 

During the Entrepreneur Fellowship, Lukas aims to finalize the development for market readiness and seeks to demonstrate its efficacy through successful pilot programs.   

Affiliation: Prof. Dr. Gerald Schwank

Start date: 04/2024