EUGENE, Ore. — The University of Oregon team based at the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact earned a Gold Medal at the 2025 iGEM Grand Jamboree in Paris, becoming the first UO team ever to achieve the top award level in the international synthetic-biology competition.“

The team gave an outstanding presentation, handled judges’ questions with confidence, and impressed everyone with their unique project,” said Calin Plesa, the team’s lead mentor and an assistant professor in the Knight Campus Department of Bioengineering. “This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the continued and crucial financial support from the Knight Campus.”

The student team’s project focused on Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), a disorder in which the body’s allergy-response cells misfire, releasing chemicals that can cause anything from skin irritation, digestive problems, to severe allergic reactions.

Plesa praised Knight Campus administrative support from Jodi Myers, senior academic business coordinator; and Khaila Carlstrom, assistant director of academic administration, for helping the students bring their work to life and represent UO on the international stage.

Last year the UO iGEM team, also advised by Plesa, competed at the Jamboree in Paris and brought home a Silver Medal in the Infectious Diseases category. The annual iGEM Jamboree attracts over 400 student teams from around the world to design, build and present synthetic-biology solutions to real-world problems. Gold Medals are awarded to teams that meet the competition’s highest standards. iGEM prides its Jamboree event as the world’s largest student synthetic-biology competition.