Japan-United (iGEM 2023 Finalist Presentation) - High School Grand Prize Winner
Video from: iGEM 2023 Grand Jamboree Final Day Show: https://jamboree.igem.org/2023
saffrocure:Innovative Approaches to Depression Treatment
Worldwide, over 320 million people suffer from depression, leading to economic losses of over $18.4 billion in Japan alone. While treatments and medications exist, there's insufficient focus on prevention and everyday mental health care. To address this issue, we're leveraging saffron, a flower cultivated in Japan for centuries. Saffron contains three antidepressant compounds, which we aim to produce using synthetic biology in E. coli. These compounds will be incorporated into affordable cookies to support effective mental health.
Additionally, we've developed an innovative approach to overcome regulatory constraints on genetically engineered organisms. We've successfully disrupted the chromosomes of E. coli, halting their growth safely. This technology is applicable to most bacteria, offering a groundbreaking solution for various iGEM projects.
"Saffrocure" is a groundbreaking project that revolutionizes depression prevention and treatment through synthetic biology while also enhancing the practicality of implementing synthetic biology-based ideas in society.
