One of the most challenging questions in science is how life can emerge from non-living matter. We are tackling this problem through the design and development of primitive cells, exploring how prebiotically-relevant chemical networks can influence the assembly, dynamics and replication of membrane-bound compartments.

Through the combination of systems and supramolecular (bio)chemistry, we are developing our own (bio)chemical tools to implement cell-like behaviours using prebiotically-relevant ingredients, and, ultimately, to blueprint the structure and function of living cells.