BoSS Teaming Profiles
This page is designed to help facilitate connections between prospective proposers, which ARPA-H anticipates will be necessary to achieve the goals of the BioStabilization Systems (BoSS) program. Prospective performers are encouraged (but not required) to form teams with varied technical expertise to submit a proposal.
If either you or your organization are interested in teaming, please create a profile via the ARPA-H Solutions Portal linked below. Your details will then be added to this page, which is publicly available.
Please note that by publishing the teaming profiles list, ARPA-H is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals or organizations included here. Submissions to the teaming profiles list are reviewed and updated periodically.
BoSS Teaming Profiles
To narrow the results in the Teaming Profiles List, please use the input below to filter results based on your search term. The list will filter as you type.
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| Joseph Cohn | ACCELINT | joseph.cohn@soartech.com | Ann Arbor, MI | Our research focuses on AI-enabled decision support, modeling, and analytics for complex, distributed systems. We develop digital platforms for logistics, readiness, and supply-chain orchestration, including data integration, predictive modeling, and system-of-systems optimization, for scalable deployment and system integration (TA2). In healthcare, we focus on AI-enabled decision support and platform architectures, emphasizing translating research into operational and commercial settings. | We seek partners leading TA1 BioPrep efforts, including cell biology, biostabilization, biomaterials, and re-animation methods. We also seek TA2 partners with expertise in cell-friendly bioprocessing hardware, GMP-scale manufacturing, and regulatory translation. Our goal is to integrate core biological innovations into scalable, deployable bioprocessing platforms. | TA2: Bioprocessing, TA1: BioPrep |
| Robert ietswaart | Aircyt, Inc. | robert.ietswaart@aircyt.com | Boston, MA | AI for Cell Therapy discovery and manufacturing optimization, including biopreservation. | Automated, high-throughput lab testing, manufacturing, and commercialization partners. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Laura Bronsart | Ambient Biosciences | lbronsart@ambientbio.com | Ann Arbor, MI | Ambient Biosciences offers innovative stabilization technology designed to remove cold-chain constraints and provide a faster, more reliable alternative to lyophilization. Our freeze-free platform preserves biomolecular performance and lowers logistics costs while fitting seamlessly into existing manufacturing. With broad applicability to future cell-based products, Ambient supports partners aiming to expand scalability and advance ambient-ready workflows. | Ambient Biosciences aims to team with GMP cell and gene therapy manufacturers and groups experienced in engineered cells, viability testing, and functional potency assays. Partners will help assess how CAV’s innovative stabilization technology can interface with cell processing, formulation, and scale-up to advance ambient-temperature solutions for resilient and deployable cell-based products. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Maeva Coste | BioWraptor | mcoste@gc.cuny.edu | New York, NY | BioWraptor develops a peptide-based encapsulation technology to stabilize fragile biomolecules, including enzymes, proteins etc. at room temperature. The technology forms a protective coating in solution and enables stable dry powders. Research focuses on preserving structure and activity during formulation, drying, and storage, eliminating cold-chain dependence and improving resistance to environmental stresses. Current work includes long-term testing and pilot validation. | BioWraptor seeks teaming partners with capabilities in diagnostics, biosensors, and biologics manufacturing who can define mission-relevant use cases, support rapid pilot testing, and validate performance under operational constraints. We value partners with access to realistic deployment environments, scale-up or integration expertise, and a willingness to co-develop solutions that eliminate cold-chain dependence for health readiness. | TA1: BioPrep, IV&V Partner |
| Asher Williams | Columbia University | aw3571@columbia.edu | New York, NY, USA, NY | Our lab engineers protein–glycan interactions for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Current work includes lectin engineering, nanobody–glycan conjugates, biomanufacturing of glycoproteins, and immune-modulating platforms for cancer, infection, and neurodegeneration. | We seek partners with expertise in cell stabilization, cryopreservation alternatives, materials for protective matrices, and scalable biomanufacturing. We are also interested in collaborators with capabilities in systems engineering, microfluidics, and in vitro functional assays to enable room-temperature stabilization and functional testing of engineered cells. | TA1: BioPrep, TA1: BioPrep |
| David Grimm | DesiCorp, Inc. | david.grimm@desicorpinc.com | Louisville, KY | DesiCorp, Inc (DCI) is led by Dr. Brett Janis, an expert in cell modification, anhydrobiosis, and cell preservation. DCI specializes in dry-state stabilization of biologics, manufacturing solutions, dry packaging, and cellular compound loading. DCI offers dry processing of cells for long-term storage and rapid reconstitution using an FDA-compliant dual-chamber bag. DCI is supported by bioprocessing-related programs (MTEC, DARPA) and can leverage this relevant experience for the BoSS program. | DCI collaborates with experts in anhydrobiosis (Dr. Michael Menze, UofL), cell lyophilization (Dr. Zhengrong Cui, UT Austin), and thin-film freeze-drying scale-up (Dr. Zachary Warnken, Via Therapeutics). We are seeking teaming partners with expertise in pharmaceutical preconditioning (metabolic stasis) and stochastic or evolutionary process optimization. Partner(s) in these areas will accelerate the project timeline and strengthen the team to deliver on the expectations of the BoSS program. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Abhinav Bhushan | Illinois Institute of Technology | abhushan@iit.edu | Chicago, IL | Biomedical research, cell based technologies | Validation assays | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Rauf Ashraf | IPS HEART | rauf@ipsheart.com | Houston, TX | We have 2 FDA designed Orphan Drug Designated therapeutics which are iPS stem cell derived for making new cardiac muscle and new skeletal muscle. Our IND will be filed next year as the FDA has accepted our proposed Phase I/II clinical trial endpoints. | Cryopreservation, recovery, etc | TA2: Bioprocessing, TA1: BioPrep |
| Tim Obara | Jurata Thin Film Inc | tobara@juratatf.com | Chapel Hill, NC | Jurata’s stabilization technology utilizes polymeric excipients to stabilize biologics, including cells, preserving their structural integrity and bioactivity. The underlying mechanism of stabilization is attributed to the formulation’s ability to prevent aggregation and hydrolysis. Studies have shown that Jurata’s technology significantly enhances the stability of live-attenuated viral vector vaccines under accelerated storage conditions, enabling long-term viability at ambient temperatures. | Jurata is looking for partners that have demonstrated capabilities in bioprocessing. Partners that would add capabilities to our stabilization technology, including re-animation techniques or reversible suspension of biological activity would be ideal to optimize the benefits of our technology, | TA2: Bioprocessing, TA1: BioPrep |
| Joe Larsen | Kensington Street Consulting | jlarsen@kensingtonst.com | Arlington, VA | We provide proposal writing support and technical program/agreement management post-award. We are looking for additional partners to join our team. | We are looking for teaming partners for TA2 Bioprocessing. | TA1: BioPrep |
| Lisa Stehno-Bittel | Likarda | lbittel@likarda.com | Kansas City, MO | Likarda developed a novel microencapsulation process using well-characterized, biocompatible polymers to protect cell therapies. The technology was first used to deliver cells providing immune protection or slow, targeted release. As we applied the technology more, the ability to protect cells during storage in harsh conditions became apparent. The process improves survival during cryopreservation and fresh cell storage, extending the shelf life and can be dissolved-on-demand by the end users. | Likarda’s proposal focuses on the promise of cell lyophilization using our polymers to protect the cells. We are looking for team members that would 1) have unique methods of testing the cellular function and stability after lyophilization, 2) have a compelling need for lyophilized cells and 3) companies that could design a GMP-ready version of our alpha unit. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Sheila Mikhail | M34 | mscott@m34thx.com | Chapel Hill, NC | M34 is a clinical-stage AAV gene therapy company improving safety, efficacy, and cost. Its redesigned Zolgensma for SMA showed in humans a 1/60 dose reduction. At this dose, one 200-L bioreactor could supply all global SMA patients. Since manufacturing drives gene therapy costs, M34’s approach can significantly lower treatment expense. | M34 is looking for partners that have demonstrated capabilities in bioprocessing in cell based platforms, including thermo-stabilization. Capabilities that include innovative upstream and downstream approaches, including suspension based platforms are preferred. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Jennifer Buell | MiNK Therapeutics | jennifer.buell@minktherapeutics.com | Lexington, MA | MiNK Therapeutics is a cutting-edge clinical-stage company developing innovative allogeneic invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapies for cancer and immune-mediated diseases. The lead product is an off-the-shelf therapy administered without lymphodepletion or HLA matching. These cells enhance both innate and adaptive immunity by combining the potent cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells with the lasting memory response of T cells. | MiNK's lead product candidate AGENT-797 is in multiple Phase 1 clinical trials with clinical and preclinical readouts anticipated later this year. Our research team is focused on developing potential first-or best-in-class therapies using a next- generation technology platform to develop novel engineered iNKT cell therapies and bispecific iNKT cell engagers. | TA2: Bioprocessing, TA1: BioPrep |
| Joseph Russell | MRIGlobal | jrussell@mriglobal.org | Gaithersburg, MD | biosecurity, applied Bio-engineering, automated device development, computational biology, AIxBio | Genome engineering, extremophile biology | TA2: Bioprocessing, TA1: BioPrep |
| Roger Narayan | North Carolina State University | roger_narayan@ncsu.edu | Raleigh, NC | my focus involves the use of inkjet printing, matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation, and laser induced forward transfer to process biological materials for medical applications | appropriate partners for evaluating our processing technology | TA2: Bioprocessing, TA1: BioPrep |
| Leila Deravi | Northeastern University | l.deravi@northeastern.edu | Boston, MA | Our team has expertise in the formulation design, lab-scale fabrication, and testing of bio-inspired materials and coatings suitable for cell/biomolecule encapsulation. Expertise in biomaterials, polymer chemistry, thin film and 3D fabrication (printing and controlled emulsion polymerization in coatings) with lab-scale testing of biologics under extreme environments available and validated for use. | Looking for partners who can help scale lab-based solutions and experimentally validate bioactivity under our confinement conditions and assays | TA2: Bioprocessing, TA1: BioPrep |
| Mahdi Imani | Northeastern University | m.imani@northeastern.edu | Boston, MA | Northeastern University develops advanced autonomous decision systems, adaptive learning frameworks, and safety-certified reasoning models for large-scale health and cyber-physical environments. Our research integrates symbolic and high-dimensional representations, uncertainty quantification, and distributed AI to enhance national health preparedness and resilient response. | Our group focuses on autonomous decision-making, symbolic and high-dimensional reasoning, PAC-Bayesian safety methods, and adaptive AI for health systems. We develop scalable models for preparedness, early detection, distributed inference, and resilient response across complex, uncertain health environments. | TA1: BioPrep |
| Benjamin tenOever | NYU School of Medicine | Benjamin.tenOever@NYUlangone.org | New York, NY | We develop a programmable RNA vector platform that delivers large genetic payloads, supports logic gated expression, achieves broad tissue distribution, and can be stored in a stable lyophilized format for field ready use. Our work integrates innate immunity, gene editing, and next generation therapeutic and diagnostic design. | We seek collaborators with expertise in formulation, biomaterials, device integration, regulatory planning, or specialized therapeutic areas. Partners who can expand payload applications or support translation of our RNA vector platform are especially valuable. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Donghoon Lee | Omphalos Lifesciences | donghoon.lee@omphaloslifesci.com | Dallas, TX | We built a high-performance mechanistic modeling engine for whole-cell biology and executable bacterial cell models predicting genetic and chemical perturbation responses. For BoSS we will extend to human cells to simulate stabilization, storage, and reanimation end-to-end, diagnose failure modes, infer hard-to-measure state shifts from observed outcomes, and guide specific fixes and follow-up tests. Teammates get faster down-selects, tighter operating windows, and fewer wet-lab cycles. | TA1: BioPrep teams with a defined stabilization and reanimation approach and shareable time-series datasets with full condition metadata and outcomes (including strong and weak performance) so we can fit and validate predictive models. TA2: Bioprocess and device teams with a defined workflow and product specifications, plus unit-operation parameters and run data, so we can connect BioPrep choices to end-to-end process performance. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Derese Getnet | Simmbion | dgetnet@simmbion.org | Baltimore, MD | Simmbion is pioneering a trypanosome-based "living medicine" platfrom designed to transform the delivery of biologics (peptides, enzymes, and antibodies) through a single once-yearly injection that dramatically improves compliance, cost-effectivness, and removes cold chain for patients. current formulation of this cell therapy is stable for 15 days at room temprature and 1 month at 4C. With support from NSF, Simmbion has recieved concurrence from FDA through INTERACT meeting a 2 study BLA path. | Having been inspired by nature on symbiosis, we are looking for partners that have automated screening capabilities to survey novel formulations derived from the salivary gland and hemolymph of the kissing bug. | TA1: BioPrep, TA1: BioPrep |
| Jon Hibshman | Southern Methodist University | jhibshman@smu.edu | Dallas, TX | Our main goals are to understand how some cells and organisms can survive desiccation and to deploy these evolved solutions to protect biological materials in the dried state. We have experience and expertise with protectant discovery with innovative screening approaches, validation of new types of protectants in vitro and in heterologous systems, and deciphering mechanisms of protection in vivo. | We are looking for teaming partners with capabilities to scale up formulation and delivery of protectants and the ability to test their protective capacity with a wider variety of cells and biological materials that are candidates for preservation in the dried state. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Shahar Sukenik | Syracuse University | ssukenik@syr.edu | Syracuse, NY | We aim to uncover the molecular grammar underlying desiccation tolerance in biological systems. Our research is driven by two main thrusts: The first thrust aims to uncover the sequence properties that allow proteins to tolerate desiccation and rehydration. The second thrust aims to design novel, protective intrinsically disordered proteins that confer cells and organisms with desiccation protection. | We develop high throughput methods to study desiccation protection at scale. We are looking for partners to help us validate hits from our screens. Specifically, we would be interested in creating desiccation tolerant variants of specific protein-based therapeutics, or by adding protective proteins as excipients to formulations that currently require cold-chain delivery. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Alan Rudolph | Tardigrada Technology Group | Rudolph@colostate.edu | Denver/Front Range, NY region, CO | Our experience covers the science of stabilization to its applications in biological formulation development. Experience includes stabilizing blood cells, and engineering nucleated cells as DARPA PM, corporate development (Cellphire) and dry stabilization of vaccines and proteins. | Looking to support teams in development | TA2: Bioprocessing, TA1: BioPrep |
| Zhengrong Cui | The University of Texas at Austin | Zhengrong.cui@austin.utexas.edu | Austin, TX | UT Austin offers its proprietary dry powder compositions of eukaryotic cells enabled by thin-film freeze-drying (TFFD). Dry powders of human monocytes or murine tumor cells, prepared using our TFFD technology, maintain cell viability and are room-temperature stable. Via Therapeutics provides the specialized equipment and large-scale resources necessary to commercialize this process, led by a team with a proven track record of successfully scaling TFFD technology for other applications. | The UT Austin-VIA team collaborates with partners with expertise in anhydrobiosis (Dr. Menze, UofL), aseptic manufacturing and innovative packaging solutions (Dr. Janis, DesiCorp), and cellular compound loading (e.g., sonoporation, DesiCorp). We also welcome partners with other validated cell loading and/or cell BioPrep technologies (e.g., magnetoporation, Sigma Genetics) to condition cells for TFFD and seek partners with experience in the regulatory aspects of cell and gene therapy products. | TA2: Bioprocessing, TA1: BioPrep |
| Jonathan (Jack) Reid | Unicorn Biotechnologies | jack.reid@unicornb.io | Newark, NJ | Unicorn Biotechnologies develops autonomous, closed-loop platforms for scaling mammalian cellular bioproduction. Our core focus is machine intelligence (AI)-driven stabilization, expansion, and process control of living cells, integrating robotics, real-time sensing, and agentic AI to improve yield, reproducibility, and deployability of advanced biologics, including cell therapies and cell-derived products. | We seek partners with breakthrough cell stabilization, preservation, or materials technologies; expertise in dry/ambient storage, intracellular protectants, or novel processing methods; and groups strong in translational biology, regulatory strategy. Ideal partners complement our autonomous manufacturing and AI control stack to enable end-to-end BoSS systems. | TA2: Bioprocessing, IV&V Partner |
| Ting Xu | University of California, Berkeley | tingxu@berkeley.edu | Berkeley, CA USA, CA | We have developed materials called random heteropolymers for protein and serum stabilization under various conditions. Detailed can be found in the following publications: Random Heteropolymer Enables Protein Function in Foreign Environments, Science, 2018, 359, 1239; Population-based Heteropolymer Design to Mimic Protein Mixtures in Biological Fluids, Nature, 2023, 615, 251. | Industrial partner with clinically relevant biological entities. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Maxwell Wilson | University of California, Santa Barbara | mzw@ucsb.edu | Santa Barbara, CA | High-throughput, robotics, synthetic biology, cell engineering, deep learning | biopreservation expertise | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Allen Liu | University of Michigan | allenliu@umich.edu | Ann Arbor, MI | My lab recently showed a stress-responsive intrinsically disordered protein from tardigrades reinforces membrane integrity in synthetic cell membrane and preserves encapsulated components, mimicking natural anhydrobiosis (biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.07.669088v1). This finding opens up a protein-based strategy to impart synthetic cells with resilience to desiccation, expanding their utility in bioengineering, cold-chain-independent biomanufacturing, and adaptive biointerfaces. | Looking for researchers who want to leverage these proteins for removing the cold chain from cell-based therapies. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Christy Haynes | University of Minnesota | chaynes@umn.edu | Minneapolis, MN | My research group has experience designing and synthesizing nanomaterials that facilitate rewarming after cryopreservation. It would be interesting to consider whether these polymer-functionalized nanomaterials could be adapted (by changing the core nanomaterial or appended polymer) so that they preserve structure/function after room temperature storage, as requested in BoSS. We have also worked on significant nanomaterial scale-up for previous applications. | This area of room temperature storage is new to my research group, so I would be interested in teaming partners who have the biological expertise and/or hardware (for reactivating preserved biologics) expertise. | TA1: BioPrep |
| Alexander Kabanov | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | kabanov@email.unc.edu | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC | Innovative polymer solutions for drug delivery, nanomedicine, and phramacoengineering. Our nanotechnology center accelerates the efficacy of new drugs and imaging agents and translates leading-edge nanomedicine into clinical solutions for diseases with limited treatment options. | Industrial partners capable of scale up our polymer based processes fro biopharmaceuticals | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Thomas Boothby | University of Wyoming | tboothby@uwyo.edu | Laramie, WY | We focus on understanding how organisms survive extreme desiccation and how we can adapt these strategies for the stabilization of biologics outside of the cold-chain. Specific areas of interest include understanding what material properties of vitrified systems enhance protection during drying and prolong protection once in the dry state. | We specifically seek teaming partners with expertise in functional testing of biologics and/or delivery of exogenous vitrifying material into cells, tissues, or whole organisms. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Eric Claude | MPR Associates | eclaude@mpr.com | Alexandria, VA | MPR's Health and Life Science Team provides services for design, development, engineering, and testing for medical devices, diagnostic instruments, and pharma/biopharma manufacturing. We use risk-based approaches to develop bespoke processes, devices, and test equipment to ensure safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. With our team of 250 engineers, designers, and scientists, MPR’s expertise supports translation of innovations from lab to commercial production. | MPR seeks to partner with prime performers who wish to leverage our capabilities to reduce risk and accelerate development through: technology evaluation, solution definition, rapid development for bench-top feasibility and risk reduction, design and development of commercial-ready devices, testing/validation, and preparation of FDA-required documentation. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing, IV&V Partner |
| Kyle Knouse | Broken HIll Ventures | kyle@brokenhill.bio | San Diego, CA | Cryptobiosis and cellular protection | TBD | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Girija Goyal | Wyss Institute | girija.goyal@wyss.harvard.edu | Boston, MA | Creating a multi-immune cell therapy to create localized immune hubs in solid tumors | Manufacturing experience or desire to innovate in cell therapy particularly for non-T cells | TA1: BioPrep, TA1: BioPrep |
| Zacharyr Warnken | Via Therapeutics | Zwarnken@viatherapeutics.com | Austin, TX | Via Therapeutics utilizes novel formulation and processing technologies to overcome critical barrier to treating clinically unmet needs. This ranges from inhaled therapeutics for infectious disease to stabilizing biologics and vaccines for room temperature storage. | We are looking for teams with resources in preparing cells prior to drying. Specifically, those with high-throughput and computational methods of designing and analyzing experiments to reach the end goal. | TA2: Bioprocessing, TA1: BioPrep |
| David Mead | Varigen Biosciences dba Varizymes | dmead@varigenbio.com | Middleton, WI | Genome mining, protein expression, purification, and assay development | Cellular stability assays and applications | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Pavan Muttil | College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico | pmuttil@salud.unm.edu | Albuquerque, NM | Our research focuses on stabilizing vaccines using spray drying technology, including live bacterial vaccines, cancer cells, antigens, subunit vaccines, and virus-like particles. Inspired by natural desiccation processes, we use thermo-protective excipients such as sugars (e.g., trehalose) to maintain biological integrity. Our vaccine stabilization work has been funded by the Gates Foundation, the US Department of Defense, and NIH. | We seek teaming partners capable of supplying diverse biologics to support stabilization process development, with a shared goal of advancing successful technologies toward scalable deployment and a future GMP manufacturing facility. | TA2: Bioprocessing, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Achraf Noureddine | University of New Mexico | anoureddine@unm.edu | Albuquerque, NM | Our nanomedicine research encompasses drug and gene delivery, cancer immunotheray and rational design of nanosystems, amongst others. For the BoSS program, the segment of my research I want to leverage is the cell-armoring with various chemical soft, hard or hybrid entities. | To complement our expertise, we are looking for collaborators with a focus on 1) Predictive systems notably AI/ML, 2) high throughput processing and 3) knowledge in entities used to stabilize cells upon dessication. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Michael Balanovskiy | BioManufacturing Solutions | m.balanovskiy@biomanufacturingsolutions.com | Toronto, Canada and Los Angeles, California, CA | BioManufacturing Solutions focuses on applied research and execution at the intersection of regulatory science, quality systems, and biomanufacturing readiness. Our work is centred on translating emerging health technologies from research environments into compliant, scalable, and deployable solutions. This includes regulatory pathway development, quality system design, GMP and clean room planning, and manufacturing strategies to support clinical/commercial deployment. | BMS seeks partners with strong technical or scientific expertise who are focused on translating innovation into the real world/commercialization. We value partners who prioritize high quality that meet regulatory standards. Outcome focused teams. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing, IV&V Partner |
| ARMON SHAREI | Portal | armon@portal.bio | Boston, MA | Portal is commercializing a novel cell engineering platform capable of delivering virtually any material into any cell type at scale | While Portal has deep expertise in providing point-of-care cell engineering solutions, we would be excited to team up with partners with biological insights that can help achieve the project goals and ensure maintenance of cell function | TA2: Bioprocessing, TA1: BioPrep |
| Achraf Noureddine | University of New Mexico | anoureddine@unm.edu | Albuquerque, NM | For the BoSS program, my research emphasizing cell armoring using soft, hard or hybrid chemical entities is most relevant. Other topics include drug and gene delivery, cancer immunotherapy. | Research expertise in high-throughput bioprocessing, AI/ML predictive models, and required chemistry to stabilize cell membrane and organelle upon dessication. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Bob Snyder | Proteios Technology, Inc. | bob@proteios.com | Seattle, WA | Proteios has developed an AI-based platform for the design of DNA/RNA aptamers. We have incorporated this technology into an aptamer-based cell isolation device for the rapid, cost-effective isolation of intact immune cells. It enables parallel enrichment/depletion of immune cells based on their selection using multiple surface antigen criteria. In addition, we have incorporated the technology into a fully automated, closed system for the end-to-end manufacturing of cell-based therapies. | Proteios is looking for teaming partners that can provide the downstream technology following cell isolation / cell therapy manufacturing to eliminate the need for ultra-cold storage. Alternatively, Proteios could pursue the development of an aptamer-based Point-of-Care (PoC) device for the decentralized manufacturing of cell-based therapies - removing the need for ultra-cold storage of antibody reagents and cell-based therapies. | TA2: Bioprocessing, TA1: BioPrep |
| Kunal Mehta | Ginkgo Bioworks | kmehta@ginkgobioworks.com | Boston, MA | Ginkgo is a biological engineering company based in Boston. We enable large-scale, systematic, model-driven, and unbiased exploration of massive genetic and process design spaces. Technical expertise relevant to BOSS includes high-throughput ML-driven protein engineering and screening with mammalian cell lines. We have also successfully managed numerous large/multiparty government programs and have experience with the entire process from proposal development to contracting and execution. | We are looking for partners with ingredients (proteins, polymers, etc.), process technologies, and other interventions that could form part of a preservation and reanimation solution (TA1) as well as partners with device design and engineering expertise (TA2; Ginkgo can complement here with integration of disparate devices) | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Ravi Goyal | Epigenuity LLC | rgoyal@epigenuity.com | Tucson, AZ | Epigenuity LLC develops non-cryogenic preservation technologies for living cells and biologics. Our work integrates intracellular glass-forming protectants, engineered bio-glass formulations, oxidative suppression, and staged restoration to enable dry or refrigerator-stable storage of mammalian cells with functional recovery. We focus on scalable, deployable workflows that eliminate liquid nitrogen dependence. | We seek partners with expertise in lyophilization and formulation science, scalable bioprocessing and closed-system cell handling, materials science for high-Tg glasses or encapsulation, and analytical methods for moisture, Tg, and potency. Industrial, CDMO, or device partners interested in deployable, non-cryogenic cell processing systems are especially welcome. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing, IV&V Partner |
| Christopher Bowman | University of Colorado Boulder | grant.malone@colorado.edu | Boulder, CO | Our research groups focuses on the development and implementation of intracellular and extracellular approaches to altering biological activity through the use of synthetic, functional polymer molecules. | We are looking for partners that have the ability to process cells in a manner that encourages rapid uptake of polymeric molecules and subsequent water removal. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |
| Advait Holkar | Praio | aholkar@praio.co | Praio makes Artificial Protocells in vitro by encapsulation of enzymes and nucleic acids in complex coacervate phases formed with synthetic polymers. These protocells mimic intracelluar biomolecular condensates while still maintaining the flexibility of cell-free systems. By combining advances in material science and synthetic biology, we design protocells for bespoke applications, such as intensified biomanufacturing of small molecules and biomaterial storage. | We are a biomaterial formulation company looking for partners with complimentary expertise in biologics, ranging from cell therapy, gene therapy and complex proteins. We envision a partnership where Praio formulates the biologic cargo for improved stability, activity or delivery | ||
| Jyoti Taneja | Varada Agriculture Inc. | jyotitaneja@varadaagriculture.com | Berkeley, CA | We develop RNAi-based biologicals for pathogen control, with an initial focus on agricultural pathogens. Our current research emphasizes RNA formulation technologies that eliminate cold-chain requirements, enabling room-temperature storage with 1-2 year shelf life. These formulations are designed for robustness, scalability, and adaptability across multiple biological applications. | We seek partners with expertise in formulation chemistry, materials science, and scalable manufacturing to translate RNAi concepts into deployable products. Ideal collaborators complement our strengths in RNA design, biological optimization, and stability testing with capabilities in formulation development, encapsulation, delivery systems, and process scale-up. | TA1: BioPrep, TA2: Bioprocessing |