CASPER

CASPER

Project Overview

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

Rhonda Tse

Rhonda Tse

Zhen Tan

Zhen Tan

Aramis Marti-Shahandeh

Aramis Marti-Shahandeh

Aritra Saha

Aritra Saha

Dr. Hafez El Sayyed

Dr. Hafez El Sayyed

Supervising Professor

Dmitry Lukyanov

Dmitry Lukyanov

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.

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