Biologically Inspired Engineering, synbio, synthetic biology, crispr
Simons Chase 
U.S.-based cancer testing startup Grail Inc has filed for a U.S. initial public offering (IPO) to complete the commercialization of its population-scale multi-cancer early detection testing capability based on a technology called liquid biopsy. Grail was spun out of gene sequencing company Illumina Inc in 2016, with investments from ARCH Venture Partners, Sutter Hill Ventures … Read more
Quantgene started in 2015 in a small UC Berkeley Lab under the leadership of Jo Bhakdi and Dr. Monika Hagen. Their theory was that most disease can be detected far earlier than today by introducing quantitative science and a new level of precision into medical practice. Since then, the Quangene team has spent over 4 … Read more
I interviewed Dr Nina Pollak via Zoom to discuss her research interests and career aspirations. She is presently a CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Fellow at the Molecular Engineering Group led by A/Prof Macdonald at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia. Originally from Austria, Dr. Pollak has completed a number of international research projects … Read more
One of the many shock waves created in COVID-19’s wake is a flood of companies employing artificial intelligence (AI) to quickly develop a safe and effective vaccine. AI is a broad term that encompasses many technologies. The AI subfield that holds the most promise for vaccine development is machine learning (ML). ML is an AI … Read more
Intrexon offered its common equity shares to the public in 2013 making it the first pure synthetic biology company to IPO. I wrote about the company in 2014. In its IPO disclosures, Intrexon said, “We believe we are the first company focused exclusively on applying synthetic biology across a broad spectrum of end markets and … Read more
China is slowly tightening its grip on one of its most valuable resources: health data. On July 3, China’s National People’s Congress of China published a draft Data Security Law, that represents a shift in the country’s data strategy. According to the National Information Center, China will pursue “asymmetric advantages in this new round of … Read more
Recent face offs at the Sino-Indian border are part of a long-term, low-grade military conflict over a border dispute. What’s different this time is India’s response. Rather than escalate militarily, the Indian government chose to express its sovereignty by banning Chinese apps from India. This is an economic response, and one remedy that is not … Read more
Freeline Therapeutics is a UK-based biotechnology company that develops liver-directed gene therapies for bleeding disorders and other diseases. Its therapies are based on a next-generation proprietary AAV vector platform, specifically a gene therapy to treat haemophilia B. The company plans to raise $125 million by offering 7.4 million ADSs at a price range of $16 … Read more
According to a report by the World Bank, China is well advanced in building a national innovation system (NIS) capable of supplying the innovation and technologies needed for a growing economy that is productivity-led. Currently, the country’s NIS focuses on discovering new innovations and accelerating the diffusion of technologies throughout to support a rapidly increasing … Read more
BeiGene was founded nearly ten years ago in China. Today, the company a lot more than a cute-sounding name. It is a commercial-stage, publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative molecularly-targeted and immuno-oncology drugs for the treatment of cancer. The Chinese biotech giant raised $2 billion in a registered direct offering in July. … Read more