CASPER
Project Overview
University
Year
About
Casper offers a new way to fight dangerous, drug-resistant infections by using precision gene-editing tools instead of traditional antibiotics. The system delivers programmable enzymes that act like "molecular scissors”, targeting and destroying only the harmful bacteria while leaving beneficial microbes unharmed. A companion diagnostic tool uses the same system to identify infections through a clear colour shift in the test sample, enabling rapid detection and treatment. This targeted, scalable approach could help combat antimicrobial resistance in both humans and animals
Team
Dmitry Lukyanov
University of Oxford
Master’s student at the University of Oxford with a strong interest in synthetic biology and complex biological systems, aiming to pursue research in mathematical biology. Led the Oxford team in the 2024 and 2025 iGEM competition - an international synthetic biology event, developing CRISPR-Cas-based therapeutics to combat antimicrobial resistance. Currently serving as Co-President of the Oxford Synthetic Biology Society, supporting student engagement in research and outreach.
Rhonda Tse
Zhen Tan
Aramis Marti-Shahandeh
University of Oxford
Aramis Marti-Shahandeh is an Engineering Science student at the University of Oxford focusing on the intersection of healthcare, engineering, and machine learning. He is currently working on the diagnostics part in Oxford iGEM. His interests span low-cost tools, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the ethics of deploying novel technologies.
Aritra Saha
University of Oxford
I am Master's student at the University of Oxford, working in the Sanyal lab where I am analysing organelle contact sites during viral infection. I have been part of two iGEM projects: iGEM 2024 and 2025, where I my primary role was leading the scientific direction of the project. I have accrued valuable research experience in the field of biochemistry and biophysics, particularly in microscopy and imaging. I also am the current President of the Oxford University Chemistry and Biochemistry Society.
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