Another Year of Gold for BU iGEM
A message from Hailey Lenn Gordon, executive director of STEM Pathways
As we reach the close of 2025, I want to take a moment to celebrate the BU students who have found so much success this year with the synthetic biology projects they brought to iGEM. The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Grand Jamboree is a kind of Olympics for synthetic biology. STEM Pathways, the outreach program I direct, sponsors an iGEM team each year to compete in the jamboree, held in Paris, France.
This year’s undergraduate team members were: Terry Chen, Raven Coffer, and Joshua Kome, all seniors in biomedical engineering (BME); Aryana Mahimtura, a sophomore in BME; and Maria Ludovica Pujia, a senior in mechanical engineering. They worked out of el Microbial Integration Group under the direction of Assistant Professor Miguel Jimenez (BME, MSE) and myself, and they were mentored by graduate student Juan Jose Robayo Yepes, research fellow Yazmin Camacho, and senior lab technologist Kristen Sheldon.
The team, going by the name FloraSynse, developed FloraDX, an at-home diagnostic tool for monitoring bacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition that affects nearly one in three women. Unlike current diagnostics, which offer only a single snapshot of the vaginal microbiome, the BU team’s approach uses daily sampling and continuous monitoring to better reflect the complex, dynamic nature of this ecosystem.
The prototype integrates a biosensor to detect putrescine, a key biomarker of BV, alongside a pH sensor to assess overall vaginal health. By tracking these biomarkers over time, the team’s goal is to develop a more accurate, data-driven, and personalized model of vaginal health. The 2025 iGEM team worked from late May through mid-October to refine, build, and test the biology, software, and hardware aspects of the project. Through iterative experimentation including growth kinetics, IPTG and putrescine dose-response assays, and troubleshooting challenges such as promoter leakiness and high-concentration cell clumping, the team demonstrated proof of concept for detecting physiologically relevant putrescine levels with their designed biosensor circuit.
The team also characterized and contributed two new BioBrick parts to the iGEM Registry, expanding tools for future biosensor development within the greater synthetic biology community.
FloraDx, the team’s custom hardware device, translates fluorescence signals into accessible digital readouts. This system incorporates a low-cost fluorescence detection system, paired with a hydrogel cassette and sliding tray system designed to keep their designed biosensor alive for seven-day-long vaginal health monitoring cycles. The device was made complete with a user-friendly graphical interface displaying fluorescence and pH data with intuitive, color-coded alerts to support at-home use.
The road to Paris
Throughout the season, the researchers engaged in a series of design-build-test-learn cycles, refining both circuit performance and device integration. Looking ahead, they identified directions for improving promoter specificity, optimizing circuit components, and expanding diagnostic applications through the refinement of their hydrogel protocols. Together, these efforts showcase BU iGEM’s multidisciplinary innovation and commitment to advancing women’s health through accessible synthetic biology solutions.
To culminate their season, the 2025 team traveled to Paris in late October to compete in the iGEM Grand Jamboree. The annual event brings together teams of students, researchers, and professionals from around the world to showcase their innovations in synthetic biology. The jamboree serves as a platform for participants to present their genetically engineered machines, highlighting advancements in various fields such as medicine, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.
The iGEM Grand Jamboree occurs over four days at the Paris Expo Center and includes a diverse range of events, from project presentations where teams elucidate the scientific principles behind their creations to poster sessions that allow for in-depth discussions and knowledge exchange. Workshops and keynote speeches provide valuable insights into the latest developments in synthetic biology, fostering collaboration and inspiring future breakthroughs.
To highlight the FloraSynse project success over the season, team members hosted a booth exhibit, meeting with fellow students as well as biotechnology company reps, answering questions about FloraDX’s design specifications and unique hydrogel encapsulation process.
The week’s final event was the judging session, where teams present and defend their genetically engineered projects before a panel of expert judges. During the oral presentations, teams articulate the scientific rationale, methodology, and practical applications of their genetically engineered machines. Judges, often comprising scientists, researchers, and industry professionals, evaluate the projects based on scientific merit, innovation, feasibility, and societal impact.
This year, the team’s successful presentation at the judging session and throughout the entirety of the 2025 iGEM season concluded with the FloraSynse team receiving a gold medal award, the highest distinction awarded at the competition. The FloraSynse team also were the undergraduate winners of the 2025 North America Mini Jamboree, a pre-Grand Jamboree event to prepare student teams for the final competition.
iGEM alumni score big, too
STEM Pathways has been the host of the university’s iGEM competition team, through a federal grant awarded to Professor Douglas Densmore (ECE, BME), since 2022. This is the second year in a row that our team has earned the gold in Paris.
Uniquely, thanks to connections made at the 2024 iGEM Jamboree’s “Start Up” Village, the 2024 BU iGEM team (formerly known as Agrinova, and now as Averra) enrolled in the Spring 2025 Cohort of the NSF I-Corps Start-Up Business Training program and became finalists for Boston University’s Ignition Award, which supports researchers in advancing ideas with significant commercial potential.
Since the 2024 iGEM competition season, Averra has continued to advance their mission of creating sustainable agriculture solutions. Since winning a gold medal in iGEM in 2024, Averra has participated in the Cleantech Open Northeast ACT program and was recognized as the Americas division winner of the iGEM Venture Creation Lab, marking a major step in their transition from a student project to a startup.
The Averra team is currently part of the Cornell Protofacturing Hardware Accelerator, where they are refining their prototype and preparing for initial manufacturing. Looking ahead, Averra will join the MIT Engine nonprofit incubator and accelerator in January 2026, positioning them to further develop their technology and expand their impact in the clean tech and synthetic biology innovation space.
Averra also returned to the 2025 iGEM Jamboree to compete in the iGEM Startup Pitch Deck Competition, where they placed in the top three teams amongst other iGEM-founded companies. Averra is currently spearheaded by its three co-founders: Meritxell Ortodo, a senior in BME; Trinity Olander, a senior in biology, and Juan Jose Robayo Yepes, a doctoral student in el Microbial Integration Group.
I’m so impressed with the hard work of our iGEM students this year, I’m pleased with the recognition they’ve received, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish in 2026!
Interested in joining the 2026 iGEM team? Learn how to apply here: https://bit.ly/JoinBUiGEM26
Interested in sponsoring the 2026 iGEM team? Write to EngageBU@bu.org
