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Synthetic biology through directed evolution
Biology is a good first draft of what is possible
Biology is extensive but not thorough. Through directed evolution (DE), we harness evolution itself — nature’s optimisation engine — to improve functional biopolymers, to create new-to-nature capabilities, and to deepen our understanding of biology.
Part of the Medicinal Chemistry group at the Rega Institute, KU Leuven.
Publications
45
Papers, datasets, code, and preprints from the group.
Collaborators
21
Partner labs and institutions across 9 countries.
People trained
37
Researchers who came through the group.
Ongoing research programmes
Our research spans fundamental, methodological, and applied questions, drawing on multiple disciplines to answer them.
Directed evolution platforms and selection technology
Cycles of diversification and selection bypass what we do not yet understand: a single experiment can sample over a billion designs and return the few that work. We work on all of it — the theory, the technology, and the applications — to make a design–build–test–learn cycle that actually turns over in weeks rather than years.
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Selection is at the heart of directed evolution. However, because of the multiple factors that affect it and the high technical barrier for most methods, it remains perceived as a high-risk methodology. Our work tackles the key barriers to making DE more accessible, more interpretable, and more robust.
Papers from this programme
Synthetic genetic polymers capable of heredity and evolution
Compartmentalised selection for polymerase activity
XNA and DNA processing enzymes
Polymerases and ligases are among the most fundamental tools in molecular biology and among the hardest enzymes to engineer. Despite decades of study, their dynamics and specificity still make them notoriously difficult to redesign.
Functional Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids, natural or synthetic, can fold into specific three-dimensional structures, giving rise to functional ligands (aptamers) and in vivo regulatory elements such as riboswitches and terminators.
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To be written.
From the notebook
Building a personal knowledge management system with Claude skills
14 July 2026 · 5 min · thread: knowledge management
DNA library synthesis for directed evolution
Protocol · cited by 2 papers
The group leader
Prof. Vitor B. Pinheiro
Professor, Rega Institute — KU Leuven. Research interests, teaching, grants and full CV.
Profile & CV →
Work with us
We host doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, and take on industry projects where evolution is a faster route than design. Enquiries go straight to Vitor.
Rega Institute for Medical Research
Gasthuisberg Campus, Leuven