Dr Simon Moore leads a cell-free synthetic biology group at Queen Mary University of London. Simon first developed an interest in cell-free systems during his PhD studies under Professor Martin Warren at the University of Kent. Simon used cell-free extracts and enzymes to elucidate the anaerobic pathways for vitamin B12 and coenzyme F430 biosynthesis - two vital life-supporting molecules from the tetrapyrrole family. Then, Simon joined Professor Paul Freemont's synthetic biology team at Imperial College London in 2014, where he expanded his interest into cell-free gene expression systems. Here he realised the potential of cell-free systems for accelerating research in synthetic biology, using cell-free to prototype gene expression and biosynthetic systems. Simon initially established his research group at the University of Kent in 2019, before moving to Queen Mary University of London in 2023. Simon collaborates with a range of SMEs and industry groups and is currently developing cell-free systems as a tool to study antimicrobial resistance.