BIO STUDIO PROJECT
ASAI
The aim of the ASAI project is to deliver a transformative approach to early diagnostics and monitoring of diseases. The cost-effective diagnostic platform will provide artificial intelligence (AI)-based evaluation of molecular fingerprints to inform clinical decisions to help slow disease progression and improve treatment plans.
About the Bio Studio program
The Bio Studio Program supports world-class entrepreneurial academic researchers in translating their science into innovative products and solutions. The program’s projects will join BII and establish a team that will work in BII’s office and lab space alongside other Bio Studio projects and start-ups. Bio Studio projects will be supported by a tailored program to develop the teams’ entrepreneurial and commercial competencies and by dedicated BII anchors to help guide project progression.
"Molly Stevens is a Professor of Biomedical Materials and Regenerative Medicine in the Department of Materials and the Department of Bioengineering and the Research Director for Biomedical Material Sciences at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London. She joined Imperial College London as a lecturer in 2004 after postdoctoral training in Professor Robert Langer's laboratory in the Chemi..."
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"Per Barfod Andersen is an Entrepreneur in Residence at BioInnovation Institute for the ASAI project. He has almost 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry from positions such as Global Solutions Manager at Dako, European Medical Business Manager at AdvanDx, and Nordic Diagnostic Manager at AstraZeneca, where he drove the class-leading oncology portfolio to bring significant value to patients and H..."
Read morePROJECT FAQ
Interview with Per Barfod Andersen:
Why have you decided to join the ASAI project as an Entrepreneur in Residence?
My driver is the possibility of making a difference! The way we do diagnostics today is ineffective and has a non-patient focus – that needs to change if we truly want to improve outcomes and treatment. I have firsthand experience of how failed diagnostics impact families; unfortunately, I would expect all of us to have or will have.
What is your role as an Entrepreneur in Residence?
I help drive the team in a commercial direction – and ensure that the project benefits from and utilizes the BII framework. Using my network and past experiences, we can accelerate the process of revolutionizing diagnostics.
What attracted you to become a part of BII’s entrepreneurial community?
BII is a place where dreams can become a reality, and there is a unique atmosphere of endless possibilities and a concise way from idea to action. I have never met so many dedicated people in one place, and I encourage people to come and experience it themselves.
What are some of the biggest learnings from your career that you bring to your position as an Entrepreneur in Residence?
You can make all the excellent project plans you want, but you need dedicated people and a supportive framework that is flexible and not only focuses on short-term goals to succeed. It is vital to have a mindset of daring to do things differently at times to achieve extraordinary results.
What are some of your near-term plans for this new role?
We must work closely with the industry and the clinical sector immediately. While everyone wants innovation, perceptions vary to an extreme extent. One of my most important tasks is to make potential partners and collaborators realize the potential of our project.
How have previous experiences shaped your approach to the role of Entrepreneur in Residence?
I draw a lot from my experiences in product development and real-life implementation, from both pharma and diagnostics. Even though you have a fantastic idea or technology, you need to ask yourself whether it is cost-effective and can survive in a real-life setting.
We are very pleased to work alongside Prof. Stevens and her team as part of the Bio Studio program. The program is focused on accelerating the development and commercialization of state-of-the-art technology by partnering with leading research institutions and entrepreneurial academics. As a globally recognized leader in diagnostic biosensing with a strong entrepreneurial background, Prof. Stevens is an excellent fit for the program.”
“Translating research outcomes that will reach those most in need has been a core focus of my research career. I am a passionate advocate for the democratization of medicine and the accessibility to healthcare for all. Collaborating with the BII in the Bio Studio program will empower my team to deliver on those goals to benefit patients. I am truly excited about working with a team of professionals, including a dedicated Entrepreneur-in-Residence, to translate our science into innovative products and solutions.”
“My driver is the possibility of making a difference! The way we do diagnostics today is ineffective and has a non-patient focus – that needs to change if we truly want to improve outcomes and treatment.”
