– Phil Greenberg, M.D., Aude Chapuis, M.D., and Tom Schmitt, Ph.D. join as advisors to help guide the company’s immunological cell therapy research efforts –
EMERYVILLE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Metagenomi, a metagenomics powered gene editing and cell & gene therapy company, today announced the addition of three leading experts in immuno-oncology clinical and basic research from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to drive the company into its next stage of growth. Philip Greenberg, M.D., Aude G. Chapuis, M.D., and Tom Schmitt, Ph.D. will join existing SAB members Chad Cowan, M.D., current CEO of Clade Therapeutics and Associate Professor, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, as well as Eric Huang, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Autoimmune & Inflammation and New Venture Labs at Moderna.
“We are proud to welcome these highly-regarded industry leaders to our scientific advisory board as we broaden our efforts to accelerate innovation in cell and gene therapy,” said Brian C. Thomas, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Metagenomi. “As we rapidly advance our toolbox of novel gene editing systems, their expertise in developing strategies for immunotherapies will be critical to our success.”
Philip Greenberg, M.D. is an internationally recognized expert in cancer immunotherapy, currently serving as the Head of Immunology at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and holds the Rona Jaffe Foundation Endowed Chair. He is also a Professor of Medicine and Immunology at the University of Washington, and an Investigator of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. He is known for his pioneering contributions in adoptive T-cell immunotherapy, for which he was awarded the Cancer Research Institute’s William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Tumor Immunology and the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Richard Smalley Memorial Career Award. Dr. Greenberg holds an A.B. in biology from Washington University and an M.D. in medicine from State University of New York.
“Metagenomi is a very unique team. I am intrigued by its concept of translating the study of metagenomics to therapeutic development with novel gene editing systems that can potentially drive innovation in immunotherapy. I look forward to working with the team of highly-dedicated scientists to explore and advance new therapies for patients,” said Dr. Greenberg.
Aude G. Chapuis, M.D. is an expert in adoptive T cell immunotherapies and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. She is currently an Associate Professor of Immunology in the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and holds the John C. & Karyl Kay Hughes Foundation Endowed Chair. She is also an Associate Professor, Department of Medicine Division of Medical Oncology at University of Washington. Dr. Chapuis holds an M.D. from Lausanne University, Medical School, Switzerland.
“Gene editing technology has demonstrated its use in improving cell engineering and is poised to advance CAR-T cell therapy efforts. With its suite of innovative gene editing capabilities with the potential to enable high efficiency and low off-target toxicity, Metagenomi is uniquely positioned to accelerate the development of CAR-T and other next-generation cell therapies as well as overcome many challenges in current therapeutic development,” said Dr. Chapuis.
Joining Dr. Greenberg and Dr. Chapuis is Thomas Schmitt, Ph.D. Dr. Schmitt is an Associate in Clinical Research in the Clinical Research Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He is an expert in T cell differentiation, thymic selection and T cell/TCR-mediated elimination of cancer. Dr. Schmitt is developing high-throughput strategies for identifying and characterizing potent tumor-reactive T cells/TCRs for T cell-based cellular therapies and has developed novel and effective approaches for enhancing the functional avidity of therapeutic TCRs. He previously helped define the molecular signals underpinning T cell lineage commitment and developed the first in vitro platform for differentiating T cells from hematopoietic or pluripotent stem cell progenitors without a thymus in vitro. Dr. Schmitt holds a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Toronto.
“It is an inspiration to see what the Metagenomi team has accomplished since its inception. The company’s science is exceptional, and the team is moving important science forward. I am very excited to see Metagenomi expand its scientific advisory board and am proud to be guiding the company forward,” said incumbent advisor, Eric Huang, Ph.D. Metagenomi looks forward to bringing together the expertise of its SAB to power innovation in cell and gene therapy development.
About Metagenomi
At Metagenomi, we are accelerating innovation in cell and gene therapy with a wave of proprietary CRISPR-based systems to accurately edit DNA where current technologies cannot. Our metagenomics-powered discovery platform and analytical expertise reveal novel cellular machinery sourced from otherwise unknown organisms. We adapt and forge these naturally evolved systems into powerful therapeutic tools that can be leveraged by partners and fuel our own pipeline of potentially curative medicines. Our goal is to revolutionize gene editing and unlock its power for the benefit of patients around the world. For more information, please visit https://metagenomi.co/
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