Dubai's BioVault aims to become a global genetic backup for endangered species

This week, Colossal Biosciences revealed it has secured a $60 million investment from the United Arab Emirates to help establish its very first BioVault conservation facility at Dubai’s Museum of the Future. This move is quite notable because it brings together some prominent backers, sets ambitious goals for preservation, and also rekindles ongoing debates about how synthetic biology and biobanking should be governed.

According to what the company announced during the World Governments Summit in Dubai, the funding will support a combined World Preservation Lab along with a public-facing BioVault installation located inside the museum. The Museum of the Future, which opened in 2022, is known for showcasing futuristic technology and innovation. Colossal described this site as a model for distributed, long-term genetic stewardship; their aim is to eventually catalogue and store millions of samples from more than 10,000 species. Initially, the startup plans to focus on roughly 100 species identified as highly endangered and not currently represented in other biobanks, an ambitious starting point, no doubt.

“The UAE’s strong commitment to innovation, conservation, and technological progress is genuinely inspiring,” said Ben Lamm, co-founder and CEO of Colossal, in a company press release. “This partnership actually gives Colossal the opportunity to expand into a critical region and push our mission on a global level,” he added. “We’re losing species at an alarming rate, and honestly, the world really needs a distributed network of BioVaults, a genuine backup plan for life on Earth,” emphasizing that the project is being framed as a kind of insurance policy for our planet, rather than just a research center.

Majed Al Mansoori, the museum’s executive director, said the initiative will kick off with a focus on fieldwork and DNA research in its first year. “By partnering with Colossal Biosciences, leaders in synthetic biology and conservation, we’re taking a bold step forward to support science that safeguards our planet, restores ecosystems, and leaves a sustainable legacy for future generations,” he said in a statement accompanying the announcement. The museum plans to host the BioVault permanently, aiming to blend educational outreach with active laboratory work.

Now, Colossal, a Dallas-based company famous for their work on de-extinction and genetically modified organisms, has certainly stirred up fascination and controversy since it was founded. Industry insiders often compare their mission to something out of science fiction; however, the company consistently emphasizes its focus on conservation. They combine genetic engineering, assisted reproduction, and ex-situ conservation techniques to achieve their goals. In their release, Colossal argued that existing biodiversity banking efforts are underfunded and scattered, and that having a distributed network of BioVaults is crucial for ensuring genetic material from diverse species is preserved properly.

The investment from the UAE was reportedly directed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s crown prince, the company said. Colossal called this Dubai project a nine-figure venture, and stated that construction of the Museum of the Future installation will start soon, with plans to open in 2027. With this, their total raise now exceeds $600 million, placing them among a small group of highly capitalized biotech startups working on bold ecological interventions.

Local news, and coverage elsewhere internationally, suggest that the project has garnered support from notable figures. According to The National, high-profile backers include Paris Hilton, filmmaker Peter Jackson, and former NFL star Tom Brady. Interestingly enough, the report also states that the whole Dubai site and related efforts cost more than $200 million, more than the company’s early estimates of the initial investment. These differing figures demonstrate how early-stage projects like this can sometimes be presented in varying lights depending on the audience.

The museum installation is intended to serve a dual purpose: as a research hub for field sampling, DNA sequencing, and cryopreservation, and as a public exhibit aiming to raise awareness about biodiversity loss and conservation efforts. Colossal mentioned that during the first year, the focus will be on collecting DNA and conducting lab analysis on different species. The company has already expanded internationally; last summer, they announced a partnership with the University of Melbourne in Australia, as part of a wider strategy to set up conservation nodes across different regions.

Environmental scientists and conservationists have generally welcomed the new funding for genetic repositories but also urge caution about how these collections are managed and used. Governments and NGOs have been witnessing increasing species declines, driven by habitat destruction, climate change, and overexploitation. There’s also concern that the current funding for in-situ conservation, like protecting habitats, is falling short, and that ex-situ efforts alone may not be enough. The reporting accompanying the announcement indicates that Colossal plans to involve other nations to host future BioVaults, signaling a desire for a geographically distributed, redundant network of genetic archives.

Of course, ethical and regulatory issues will be at the forefront as this project progresses. Their work around de-extinction and gene-editing raises a lot of questions, like how genetically altered or revived species would fit into current ecosystems and who would control access to the stored genetic material. Framing the BioVault as a global backup for life also sparks governance debates: issues surrounding data sovereignty, benefits for source countries, and long-term stewardship responsibilities. International agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity set rules for access and sharing benefits, which will become increasingly relevant as more countries get involved in biobanking.

For the UAE, this collaboration clearly positions the country as a hub for cutting-edge climate and life-science initiatives. The Museum of the Future’s mission to imagine what’s possible with technology aligns well with the UAE’s broader public diplomacy focused on innovation. Regional observers have pointed out that the BioVault could be especially important for conserving species native to the Gulf region, where harsh, arid landscapes and rising temperatures are putting unique biodiversity under serious pressure.

Colossal’s announcement arrives at a moment when public interest in biotech and conservation is extremely high. If the Dubai BioVault and World Preservation Lab come to fruition as planned, they will serve as a test for whether such high-profile, high-cost repositories can effectively complement on-the-ground conservation efforts and truly benefit species that are at risk. Construction is reportedly set to begin soon, with a target opening in 2027. Now, all eyes will be on how governance, international partnerships, and the use of stored samples develop, these are the key questions that will determine whether this big initiative makes a lasting impact.

Source: Noah Wire Services