UAE Partners with Colossal BioSciences to Establish Global Biodiversity Laboratory

Colossal BioSciences, a synthetic biology startup, has secured a multi-million dollar agreement with the UAE to develop a secure biological laboratory and repository in Dubai. This facility will focus on preserving genetic material from various animal species, aiming to protect them from extinction and environmental threats.

Official Endorsement from UAE Leadership

The announcement was made at the World Government Summit in Dubai, where UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum expressed the government's commitment to the initiative. This project is part of a larger global network of biological repositories designed to safeguard thousands of species around the world.

Location within the Museum of the Future

The laboratory will be situated in the Museum of the Future in Dubai. The UAE will also take part in the current funding round for Colossal, which is engaged in efforts to revive extinct species such as the woolly mammoth, with potential involvement in future funding initiatives.

A Commitment to Biodiversity Preservation

Majid Al Mansouri, Executive Director of the Museum of the Future, noted that the initiative will prioritize fieldwork and DNA research in its first year, establishing a scientific basis for future biodiversity conservation efforts.

Ben Lamb, CEO of Colossal, referred to the network of biological repositories as a "modern Noah's Ark," emphasizing the critical need for secure facilities and international collaboration to protect Earth's biodiversity from climate change and species extinction.

Global Significance of the Initiative

The Dubai facility is expected to house millions of samples from over 10,000 species, with a particular focus on more than 100 endangered species that lack preservation elsewhere. This initiative aligns with other international conservation efforts, including the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway and similar repositories in the United States, United Kingdom, Peru, Philippines, Mexico, and Australia.

A Step Towards Sustainable Conservation

This initiative marks a significant advancement in leveraging technology and innovation to tackle global environmental challenges, aiming to create a sustainable scientific legacy for future generations while protecting the planet's biodiversity.