Help Harvest Genetic Solutions

Join the effort to future-proof North Carolina's agricultural economy.

NC State is a trailblazer in utilizing genome editing technology. And, there remains unrealized potential in agriculture for breeding next-generation crops that implements this technology to address agricultural challenges including changing climates, invasive species and shrinking farmland.

The Genome Editing Center for Sustainable Agriculture (GEC) at NC State will accelerate the pace of gene editing research in plants and empower the agricultural industry to adapt quickly. The GEC will:

Develop new plant genome editing tools to shorten the timespan between scientific exploration and the introduction of new plant improvement innovations to farmers and growers.
Create and spin out new companies to ensure innovative technology reaches those who need it most.
Play a pivotal role in shaping a prosperous and sustainable food supply for all.

Roberts and Mikhail Endowed Distinguished Chair
in Plant Genome Editing

Fund the Endowment

Goal: $4,500,000

Jude Samulski provided generous funding to create the Roberts and Mikhail Endowed Distinguished Chair in Plant Genome Editing (search currently underway). Dr. Samulski’s lead gift allows us to accelerate the pace at which an expert scientist can be hired to begin their research and serve as director of the GEC.

Increasing the endowment to $4.5 million is essential to secure the long-term financial stability and success of NC State’s gene editing research initiatives. This funding will generate annual income to support the activities of the tenured professor and their plant genome editing lab focused on the development of scientific research.

Other Opportunities for Support

GEC Research Team
$1,000,000

Fund graduate students, postdocs, a research technician and other key team members for the operational success of the center.

Technologies
$1,000,000

Support the purchase of cutting-edge equipment to advance research.

Research Team Lead
$400,000

Ensure the hiring of a crucial project manager serving under the Endowed Distinguished Chair to help establish and run the GEC.

“Genome editing is the next wave of technology to feed the world.”

Jude Samulski is supporting the effort to advance genetic breakthroughs in agriculture, in hopes of helping fight global food insecurity and supporting North Carolina’s agricultural and ag technology industries. Meet the berry farm owner and pioneer in gene editing behind the gift.

Read Samulski’s Story

Partnering NC State Units

Components of the GEC already exist on campus, positioning NC State to drive significant progress in agricultural biotechnology. The GEC will collaborate with external industry partners to drive IP generation and the commercialization of plant genome editing technologies.

Bioinformatics Research Center

Center of Excellence for Regulatory Science

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Genetics and Genomics Academy

Genomic Sciences Laboratory

N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative

Office of Research Commercialization

Plant Breeding Consortium

Plant Transformation Lab

Plant Genome Editing Impact

The demand for plant genome editing is growing, especially in North Carolina, where the climate and geography produce a greater variety of crops than in other prominent states. NC State is currently completing CRISPR research on Christmas trees and other horticultural projects, but with further research capabilities enabled by the GEC, CALS can continue to enhance agricultural innovations within the state and nation.

Future-proofing Food and Agriculture: NC State’s Genome Editing Center

NC State’s new Genome Editing Center for Sustainable Agriculture heralds a new era. To explain the potential and applications of genome editing, we asked NC State’s Rodolphe Barrangou, a pioneer in CRISPR technology. As the Todd R. Klaenhammer Distinguished Professor in probiotics research, Barrangou leads the CRISPR lab in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences.

Food, Fiber and Functional Beauty

How we continue to feed, clothe and beautify the world starts with cultivating resilience. The NC State Plant Breeding Consortium boasts more than 65 faculty and research associates actively developing new cultivars, germplasm and parental lines, making it one of the largest groups of plant breeders in any U.S. university. Their mission: address pressing global challenges in food security, nutrition and agricultural sustainability by cultivating high-yielding, disease-resistant plant varieties.

Building a Better Forest Tree With CRISPR Gene Editing

Researchers at NC State used a CRISPR gene-editing system to breed poplar trees with reduced levels of lignin, the major barrier to sustainable production of wood fibers, while improving their wood properties. The findings – published in the journal Science – hold promise to make fiber production for everything from paper to diapers greener, cheaper and more efficient.

Partner with NC State Research

Interested in partnering with NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences? Contact Deborah Thompson or Kathleen Denya.

Thank you for helping us grow the Roberts and Mikhail Endowed Distinguished Chair in Genome Editing. Funds supporting the North Carolina State Genome Editing center are collected and managed are collected and managed by The Endowment Fund of NC State University, tax id-56-6000756. You will receive an official receipt for your donation.