The Emerging Investigator program from the Novo Nordisk Foundation supports upcoming and highly promising research leaders within Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, with a focus on advancing sustainable solutions and strengthening the next generation of research groups. Both projects reflect this ambition by addressing key challenges in sustainable materials and biomanufacturing:
Tobias Tandrup receives DKK 12.5 million for the project 'Next-generation Alginate Utilisation Through Improved Lyases Unlocked by Structure-driven engineering' (NAUTILUS) aiming to redesign key enzymes to enable more precise and efficient production of high-performance alginate materials, supporting the development of sustainable, bio-based solutions.
Hooman Hefzi receives DKK 12.5 million for the project 'Mammalian Metabolic Atavism' (MaMA), aiming to restore lost metabolic functions so cells can produce essential compounds themselves, enabling more efficient, scalable, and cost-effective biomanufacturing.
