Professor Michael Garton is an assistant professor in the Institute for biomedical engineering at the University of Toronto. He is also the Canada research Chair in synthetic biology. His laboratory is focused on integrating Machine learning driven synthetic biology with gene and cell design. Recent works include engineering a panel of synthetic biology compatible stem cell lines to allow rapid, efficient and safe transgene integration. Other recent works include a deep learning generative model tool that can generate non-immunogenic, synthetic viral vector serotypes. In 2021 he was awarded a $1 million grant from Medicine by Design to lead a team of regenerative medicine investigators to establish a ‘Centre for the Design of Novel Human Tissues’ to address graft cell death and promote ‘super-tissue’ development.

Research Team: 20+ trainees
Facilities: Stem cell engineering, differentiation and characterisation wet lab, Machine learning and protein simulation dry lab, Viral vector design and testing for gene therapy, Gene editing (CRISPR, prime editing), Synthetic gene and gene circuit design and assembly.