From Northwestern Labs to the World: With the Help of INVO, Three Synthetic Biology Startups Push Toward Commercialization
INVO has been instrumental to the formation and progress of Opera Bioscience, linking us to opportunities, resources, and programs that have led us to mentors and perspectives...”
Danielle Tullman-Ercek
Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering
When Northwestern University launched the Center for Synthetic Biology in 2016, it signaled the University’s commitment to a fast-evolving field focused on building new biological systems using the tools of physics, engineering, and computer science. Six years later, Northwestern research has spawned various synthetic biology startups, including three Querrey InQbation Lab residents who also received N.XT funding to propel commercial development.
Founded in 2019 from the research of Julius Lucks, professor of chemical and biological engineering, and Michael Jewett, Walter P. Murphy Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Stemloop repurposes cell-free biological mechanisms to create rapid, easy-to-use sensors to detect pathogens, toxins, and chemical contaminants. CEO Khalid Alam, a former post-doctoral fellow of Lucks, secured SBIR funding as well as initial seed funding from Titletown Tech. The company recently introduced its first product, the µSense™ for testing lead in water.
Based on the research of Joshua Leonard, associate professor of chemical and biological Engineering, Syenex is developing a high-throughput discovery platform to harness the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles. Led by CEO Jay Rosanelli, Syenex recently landed its first $5 million seed investment and captured 2022 AbbVie Innovation Midwest Award honors.
As a member of a Kellogg class on commercialization, Gerry Sapienza (Kellogg ’21) helped identify a translational path for professor of chemical and biological engineering Danielle Tullman-Ercek’s transformative technology for protein manufacturing. While Sapienza now spear heads the commercialization of that novel technology.
As the CEO of Opera Bioscience, Tullman-Ercek captured first prize in the MedTech category at Equalize 2022, a pitch competition highlighting female academic inventors.
To continue fostering Northwestern’s strength in synthetic biology, the Querrey InQbation Lab hosted “SynBio 2.0 | What Comes Next” in October 2022. Panel discussions, lakeside chats, and a networking social stimulated rich conversations about synthetic biology’s future among more than 120 university researchers and investors from around the country.