Harvard's Office of Technology Development and LabCentral invite you to the latest event in the Guppy Tank series, where two teams of Harvard life-science innovators will pitch their concepts to a panel of entrepreneurs and investors for constructive, in-depth feedback.

Register Here

Please join us on December 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. to learn from experts on startup formation and participate in giving audience feedback. Networking reception to follow.

Panelists:

Rosana Kapeller, Entrepreneur in Residence, GV
Sophie Kornowski, Partner, Gurnet Point Capital
Ellie McGuire, Partner, LS Polaris Innovation Fund
Felicia Pagliuca, VP of Cell Biology Research and Development, Semma Therapeutics
Michal Silverberg, Managing Director, Novartis Venture Fund

Project 1:

Next-generation cell-type-specific AAVs
Michael Greenberg, Sinisa Hrvatin, and Aurel Nagy
Greenberg Lab, Harvard Medical School

We developed a platform to rapidly screen gene regulatory elements and generate novel AAVs with amplified and/or cell-type-specific payload expression. Our platform, PESCA, is expected to synergize with the mainstream approach of manipulating AAV tropism through capsid sequence mutagenesis and will pave the way to a new generation of safer, more effective targeted gene therapies.

Project 2:

A cell therapy cure for skeletal muscle disorders
Feodor Price
Rubin Lab, Harvard Dept. of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology

Treatment of diseases characterized by muscle degeneration has been limited by the inability to culture satellite cells (muscle stem cells) that engraft and repopulate the satellite cell niche in vivo. We have overcome these limitations and developed methods for producing therapeutic levels of cells characteristic of satellite cells, opening up a new avenue for the treatment of muscle-degenerative diseases.