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#FounderSpotlight Today, we want to highlight Dr. Armstrong Murira and Dr. Nardin Nakhla, the dynamic duo behind Simmunome Inc. - an artificial intelligence-powered startup focused on predicting the likelihood of drug candidates to fail (or succeed) in clinical trials. Through this they help their clients discover the right pathway to go after in disease treatment; reducing the cost and time spent on clinical trials on one hand, and increasing their efficiency and success rate on the other. Dr. Armstrong Murira (Co-founder & CEO) received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Simon Fraser University, where he also majored in Bachelor’s of Business Administration. His research focused on leveraging computational biology to understand human biological networks that cause and fight disease. In 2016, he developed the idea for Simmunome during his post-doc, where he connected with Dr. Nardin Nakhla through a mutual friend. Dr. Murira’s technical and business background allows him to handle the business and sales aspects of the company. As the co-founder and CTO of Simmunome Inc., Dr. Nardin Nakhla combines her knowledge in engineering, machine learning, and neuroscience to lead the company's research and development efforts, focusing on innovative AI models that simulate disease pathways and predict drug efficacy outcomes. After gaining experience as a regional electrical engineer at Procter & Gamble, Nardin's passion for research drew her back to academia. This led her to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at McGill University, where she utilized machine learning and diverse modeling techniques to investigate the brain's information processing and learning capabilities. Simmunome was born out of their combined passion for finding new ways to understand and treat complex diseases. At BKR Capital, we are dedicated to unearthing and supporting Canada’s most promising founders who are disrupting industries based on a combination of clear market understanding and sound technical expertise. #BKRCapital #BKRCapitalPortco #VentureCapital #BlackEntrepreneurs #BlackInTech #BlackExcellence #innovation #TechStartups

💡 Spotlight on Today's LISA Hero: Dorothea Anna Pittrich 💡 Dora is an integral part of Cellectric Biosciences as the Team Lead Biology, ensuring that Cellectric’s innovative solution effectively addresses the needs of the markets. Cellectric is a current finalist of the Hello Tomorrow Global Champion competition, was recently acclaimed “Rising Star” in the spin-off category at the EY Scale-up Award 2023 and received the PHÖNIX Gründerpreis 2022, recognizing Cellectric’s pioneering efforts at the intersection of electrodynamics and biology. 🎤 Dora, what is your role in the Life Science ecosystem? 🔊 My role involves establishing national and international #collaborations with businesses, hospitals, and research institutes to identify opportunities for Cellectric as a seed-stage biotech startup. Currently, these efforts are focused on developing a product to accelerate and simplify sepsis diagnosis. Our long-term vision is for Cellectric to become a leading provider of an automated cell manipulation platform to simplify sample complexity in healthcare and research with the help of electric fields. 🎤 How do you perceive Austria as a location for life sciences? 🔊 At Cellectric, we value diversity within our team as crucial for achieving our goals. Austria's increasing internationalization makes it an attractive destination for global talent, particularly Vienna which is known for its high living standards and concentration of top-tier research institutes, startups, and key players in the sector. However, to sustain and accelerate this trend, streamlining the recruitment process for non-EU talent will be essential. Austria's strategic location in the centre of Europe and supporting organizations like xista science ventures, Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws), FFG Austrian Research Promotion Agency, and the LISA network facilitate valuable collaborations between science and startup ecosystems, manufacturing companies, and research-oriented clinics, making it easier for entrepreneurs to pursue truly innovative ventures. 🎤 What are the trends you observe in the Life Science sector in Austria? 🔊 Extending the FFG Life Science Call funding to 2026, adding €45M, emphasizes the crucial role of clinical collaboration projects in advancing Austria's life sciences. Another example how global trends including AI and big data analytics extend into the Austrian ecosystem is the aws #AI funding program. I'd like to take this opportunity to highlight the emerging sector of the #electrome, an interdisciplinary field combining electrodynamics and biology. As an Austrian it makes me proud to see ambitious research and companies like Cellectric leading the way in the use of electric fields to manipulate cells for various biotech applications. Additionally, there's a growing emphasis on #sustainability and #ethics in the Life Science sector, reflecting a global shift towards responsible innovation - a core value embraced by Cellectric. Photo: ©Cellectric

We are thrilled to share that Irene González Barahona González, our Key Account Manager, and Julio Martin Martín, ourSenior Strategic Liaison, were recently featured in an insightful interview with Technology Networks magazine. ❔ What are the key challenges you currently face? Irene González Barahona highlighted the challenges faced by startups like ours, particularly the scarcity of resources which requires multitasking and strategic choices about conference participation. "We would love to exhibit at all the conferences, but as a start-up, it's just not feasible," Julio Martin discussed the crucial role of customer feedback in shaping our solutions. "Understanding our users' problems is essential. We rely on insights from our target customers to enhance our technology applications, especially in the expansive field of cell biology," . Their thoughts underscore the importance of direct interactions at events and conferences, providing us with valuable feedback that helps us tailor our innovative solutions to meet specific needs. 🔗 Stay tuned for more updates and breakthroughs from A4cell as we continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities in cell biology. #A4cell #TechnologyWorks #CellBiology #Innovation #BusinessInsights #StartupChallenges #CustomerFeedback #IndustryEvents

Dream Big! Celebrating Science Week with the Innovators of Tomorrow What a phenomenal start to Science Week! This morning, I had the privilege of presenting to my children’s primary school, bringing the marvels of science and deep-tech innovations straight from the UK's illustrious universities. It was a session filled with excitement, aimed at inspiring these young minds to embrace the roles of future scientists. The journey took us from discussing the possibilities of black soldier fly-powered aeroplanes with BugEra , to the advancements in cultivated meat by Roslin Technologies and Ivy Farm Technologies. We navigated through the breakthroughs in new vaccines with our investment in Vaccitech (now Barinthus Biotherapeutics), co-creators of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, and explored the frontier of biodegradable plastics with Polymateria. Each topic was met with wide-eyed wonder and insightful questions, igniting a spark of curiosity and passion. The UK's university landscape is a treasure trove of scientific excellence, serving as a fertile ground for our investments through the British Innovation Fund II, Green Earth Ventures, and Future Health venture funds. These initiatives are at the forefront of addressing the myriad challenges our world faces, showcasing the power of innovation to create tangible solutions. As I shared these stories, it was heartening to see the enthusiasm and eagerness in these young scientists-to-be. Their curiosity is a testament to the vibrant future of science. It's clear: the next generation is ready and waiting to carry the torch of scientific discovery forward. I’m thrilled to share a few slides from my presentation, courtesy of AI, capturing this inspiring journey. Let’s continue to encourage our children to be passionate, curious, hardworking, and a bit mad – but above all, to dream big! The future is bright with the promise of science, and I'm filled with hope seeing these young minds eager to explore it. #ScienceWeek #Innovation #DeepTech #climatetech #cleantech #venturecapital #UKScience Milltrust International Simon Hopkins Henry S. Eric Anderson CELINE L. Piotr Gorczyca Rishabh Koradia Harry Paul East West Private Wealth

A few genuine scientists can excel in both, science and business.

What an incredible discussion with our BioTech innovators during the A Bio Future event in #Dallas, Texas! Here were the key takeaways ⬇️ 🚀 Gabby Everett, Director of Business Operations at BioLabs Pegasus Park - North Texas, discussed the strength of collaboration in the #Texas BioTech community, which makes the region a strong place for innovation. 🌟 Michael Langer, Co-Founder of T.Rx Capital, discussed the importance of bringing together experts in both science and technology when building a team because of the recent trend of software, data science, and AI being used in BioTech. 🙌 Travis McCready, Head of Life Sciences America at JLL, shared how MassChallenge accelerates startups by helping founders connect to a broad community of experts to scale their business. 💡 Jinming Gao, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at UT Southwestern Medical Center, shared lessons on Biotech innovation post-COVID-19, during which we witnessed the resources being gathered together to help society in the shortest time during the pandemic. Tag or share with a BioTech #innovator! 🚀

Huge thanks to Type One Ventures for an absolutely captivating event on the future of space tech! 🚀 It was a privilege to delve into the intersection of #biology and #space, exploring the myriad challenges and boundless opportunities it presents. 💊One standout topic: pharmaceutical manufacturing in microgravity, a concept spearheaded by BioOrbit The discussions shed light on the convergence of aerospace and pharmaceuticals, hinting at a future where drug development takes on new dimensions beyond Earth's atmosphere. 🧬Insights from industry giants like AstraZeneca and Boeing underscored the immense potential space offers for drug development, emphasizing the need to navigate regulatory landscapes and demonstrate the value of space-based research to corporate stakeholders. As Katie King, PhD from BioOrbit wisely noted, "Space is just a different environment where research is conducted, not that crazy space." Much like quantum technologies, it's not a matter of if, but when we fully embrace the opportunities space has to offer. 💸The event also highlighted the vital role of VCs in fostering innovation, acting as the eyes and ears of the ecosystem to bring promising companies to the forefront. 🤝Collaborative efforts between startups, corporates, and government entities are essential to drive progress and mitigate risks in this emerging frontier. Exciting times ahead as we push the boundaries of what's possible in space exploration and biotech. Can't wait to see where these conversations lead next! #SpaceTech #Biotech #Innovation #FutureFrontiers #techbio APEX Ventures

Pittsburgh is emerging as a significant player in the biotech industry, propelled by recent investments in life sciences, AI, robotics, and technology. The newly established Pittsburgh Life Sciences Alliance is spearheading efforts to elevate the region's global standing in life sciences, with major companies like Bayer participating on its industry advisory council. A notable development is Pitt BioForge, a 185,000-square-foot biomanufacturing facility currently under construction. Experts predict that these initiatives will position Pittsburgh as a major hub in the biotech sector over the next five to ten years. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ According to Chandan Sen, director of the University of Pittsburgh’s McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the “wave … is clearly measurable.” “Taking all this together, I see in the next five [to] 10 years, Pittsburgh will pull itself up into a major hub,” Sen said. https://lnkd.in/dz9eq57t

City of Dallas, for instance, which is home to UT Southwestern, was recently selected as one of three regional hubs for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, a new federal agency within U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). And that’s only the latest addition to the city’s growing biotech presence. In City of Pittsburgh, which has seen recent investments in life sciences, AI, robotics and tech, the just-launched Pittsburgh Life Sciences Alliance aims to propel the region into a more prominent global life sciences position, counting pharma giant Bayer among its industry advisory council members. There’s also Pitt BioForge, a 185,000 sq. ft. biomanufacturing facility currently under construction. State of Utah’s life sciences industry is one of the fastest-growing in the U.S., with efforts at both the state and city level to bring more biotech companies and jobs to Salt Lake City Corporation Lake City and beyond. In January 2020, Salt Lake City launched “Tech Lake City,” an initiative to attract more tech talent. It also created the public-private agency BioHive Utah to connect and promote the city’s biotech players. I have author this blog on pharma, biotech, medical equipment, and healthcare - https://lnkd.in/gQjbyh2G

Meet Helena Højsted Eriksen, Maya Zagouri, and Annemette Tengstedt Rasmussen, biotech students from DTU and founders of the femtech startup Uterome Biomedical 🧘♀️ Together, they are taking on quite a challenge in women’s health: diagnosing the chronic condition, endometriosis! Annemette, Maya, and Helena met during the course “Biobusiness and Process Innovation” and turned a classroom idea into an innovative femtech startup. 🌱 🔬 Endometriosis affects 10% of women but is often misdiagnosed - and has been for centuries. Uterome Biomedical is developing a new diagnostic tool that is able to provide a more accurate diagnosis of the condition, thereby offering earlier and non-invasive detection. The femtech startup is still in the earliest stages but has already won ecosystem awards and secured soft funding to continue its growth. 👩🔬🌍 Is the entrepreneurial ember burning in your stomach, or do you have an idea for something that could be turned into your own business? Check out our startup support programs and apply before September 14th, 23:59 (CET) - link below 👇 #DTUInnovation #WomenInTech #Femtech #EndometriosisAwareness #dtudk #EngineeringLife #StartupJourney DTU - Technical University of Denmark