Protein Engineering Student

The multi-billion dollar fashion industry has a problem: many of the high-performance fabrics used in everything from haute couture to athletic wear have their origins in the petroleum industry, and so are neither sustainably produced nor environmentally friendly. This means that there is a considerable market gap in sustainable textiles, which are in increasing demand by eco-conscious consumers globally. Canadian textile corporations are tackling this problem head on by actively seeking environmentally friendly solutions. This proactive approach has led them to the concept of producing Textile Replacement iMolecules (TRiMs), a new class of synthetic computationally designed proteins, for the development of novel biomaterials for high-performance fabrics. The aim of this project is to produce TRiMs via a renewable, untapped resource – genetically engineered crop plants confined in greenhouses. As a Canadian product, the TRiM protein could rejuvenate the Canadian textile market. The use of TRiM protein in clothing will cement our place in the sought-after market of durable eco-fabrics. The use of this technology will ultimately create a new division of Canadian agriculture and textile manufacturing using the resources that are inherently available to the nation.

Faculty Supervisor:

Maxim Berezovski

Student:

Partner:

Proteins Easy Corp

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture; Manufacturing

University:

University of Ottawa

Program: