Energy Chris Wright launches a new chapter in American leadership in autonomous biological discovery
He commissioned and signed the Anaerobic Microbial Phenotyping Platform (AMP2) during a visit to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright last week launched a new chapter to secure American leadership in autonomous biological discovery alongside scientists and private partners at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).
As part of his visit to PNNL, Secretary Wright commissioned and signed the Anaerobic Microbial Phenotyping Platform (AMP2). PNNL scientists believe AMP2 will be the world’s largest autonomous-capable science system for anaerobic microbial experimentation. The platform supports the Trump Administration’s recently announced Genesis Mission, which calls on the Department of Energy (DOE) to transform American leadership in science and innovation with the development of artificial intelligence (AI).
Built by Gingko Bioworks, AMP2 gives DOE scientists an unprecedented capability to explore the world of microbes—an invisible yet powerful workforce poised to boost biotech manufacturing as well as provide insights into basic life science questions. This first-of-its-kind capability will transform how the U.S. identifies, grows, and optimizes the use of microbes in days and weeks instead of years using automation and AI.
“President Trump launched the Genesis Mission to ensure American leadership in science and innovation,” said Secretary Chris Wright. “This ongoing public-private partnership at PNNL will help do exactly that in the field of biotechnology. By launching AI-enabled, autonomous platforms like AMP2, our DOE National Laboratories are driving scientific breakthroughs faster than ever before and ensuring the United States leads the world in technologies that will better human lives and secure our future.”
The AMP2 platform will serve as a prototype for the Department of Energy’s planned development of the larger Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability (M2PC). Together, the systems will establish the world’s largest autonomous microbial research infrastructure and position the U.S. to lead in biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and next-generation materials innovation for decades to come.
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