bit.bio is a synthetic biology company focused on human cells that is advancing medicine (UN SDG9) and enabling curative treatments (UN SDG3). The company does this by industrialising the manufacture of human cells and making them more accessible. The company was spun out of the University of Cambridge in 2016 and has since raised approximately $200m from investors such as Arch Venture, Foresite Capital, Milky Way, Charles River Laboratories, National Resilience, Tencent, Verition Fund and Puhua Capital.bit.bio’s opti-ox™ precision cell programming and manufacturing technology enables conversion of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into any desired human cell type in a single step. This can be achieved within days and at industrial scale, while maintaining exceptional purity and unparalleled consistency.Our discovery platform extends this approach to any desired cell type by identifying the transcription factor combinations that define cell states (including identity, cell subtype identity, maturity) using high throughput screens and advanced data analysis. We believe that opti-ox can revolutionise regenerative medicine similarly to how CRISPR is unlocking gene therapy.bit.bio’s cell therapy pipeline, based on txCells™, is focused on serious diseases that lack effective treatments. Our current therapeutic development areas include metabolism and endocrinology, immunology and neurology. Our lead candidate, bbHEP01 based on txHepatocytes, is in development as a treatment for patients suffering from acute liver failure (ALF) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Complementing our internal pipeline, we have a collaboration with BlueRock Therapeutics (a wholly owned independently operated subsidiary of Bayer AG) focused on regulatory T cell (Treg) based cell therapies.In addition, our extensive ioCells™ research cell product portfolio, which includes ioWild Type Cells™, ioDisease Model Cells™ and ioCRISPR-Ready Cells™.

Principal Investigator leading a translational research group focussing on stem cells, human disease modelling, and experimental medicine trials for neurological diseases.

My group is interested in the biology of adult CNS stem and precursor cells. We use cellular re-programming techniques to gain insight in the transcriptional and epigenetic events that determine cellular identity. In particular, we are interested in understanding genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that define the cellular states of OPCs, neural stem cells, and fully differentiated neural cell types. Our aims are to1) study basic mechanisms controlling cellular identity2) develop cellular platforms that can be used for studying the biology of specific human cell types3) create patient specific disease models for the study of genetic factors in clinical disease.Promoting CNS remyelinationA second focus are mechanisms of CNS remyelination, a stem/precursor cell-mediated process in which new myelin sheaths are restored to demyelinated nerve fibres (axons). To understand how the differentiation of multipotent oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) is regulated we use a combination of in vitro and in vivo models. Furthermore, we integrate findings of post mortem studies and, as part of the Cambridge Centre for Myelin Repair, aim at translating our findings into clinical studies.Translating regenerative treatments and clinical researchOur translational focus is promoting regeneration in the context of spinal cord injury. We are especially interested in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM), a common form of compressive injury (www.myelopathy.org). Apart from a preclinical model of CSM, which serves as a reductionist model to study disease processes in CSM, we investigate the natural history of the disease in the clinical context. Recently, we received funding for an early stage translational trial which will test whether promoting regeneration in CSM can improve functional recovery.

Meatable is an innovative food technology company, aiming to deliver, at scale, cultivated meat that looks like, tastes like, and has the nutritional profile of traditional meat because it is real meat. Meatable’s goal is to satisfy the world’s appetite for meat without harming people, animals or the planet. Its process centers around the use of pluripotent stem cells with patented opti-ox™ technology, which enables cells to multiply and differentiate into mature muscle and fat cells – the key ingredients for real, tasty meat. This breakthrough technology allows cells to be differentiated in only 8 days, the fastest process in the world, and enables Meatable to produce meat rapidly, sustainably and cost-effectively.

clock.bio aims to extend and improve quality of life by reversing the harmful effects of time in our cells, harnessing the regenerative capabilities of human pluripotent stem cells. clock.bio’s mission is to extend healthspan by 20 years based on biomarkers of aging in a Phase 3 trial by the end of this decade.

www.myelopathy.org