BIO STUDIO PROJECT
Skape Bio
Skape Bio will use protein design to create small therapeutic proteins, called minibinders, that modulate cell signaling by binding the integral membrane domains of key receptors (GPCRs, ion channels, and transporters). The project uses methods pioneered by David Baker’s laboratory at the University of Washington to create their new class of therapeutic proteins to modulate cell signaling.
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.
"Dr. Frank Dimaio is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington. His research is focused on protein structure determination from sparse and noisy experimental data. The methods Frank has developed include tools for solving difficult molecular replacement problems, elucidating more than a dozen structures previously unsolved in the laboratories of expert crystallogr..."
Read more
"Chris Norn is the Entrepreneur in Residence for the Skape Bio project. He’s a protein design expert with over a decade of experience in molecular engineering and synthetic biology. His work spans the development of GPCR modulators, bioluminescent enzymes for biosensor technologies, small-molecule binders for drug reversal, and engineered capsids for immunogen display. He has pioneered AI-driven methods for p..."
Read more“We are very pleased to add this cutting-edge project to our Bio Studio portfolio. De novo protein design is an exciting area and one that fits perfectly with our strategy to accelerate the commercialization of state-of-the-art technology. We aim to advance projects that harness technology to address unmet needs in medicine by partnering with leading research institutions and entrepreneurial academics.”
“Over my career, I have learned several fundamental management rules for success in corporate biotechnology, which are passed along as needed. Being a mentor and cheerleader to the team is first and foremost. Using connections and experience to help pave the way through paperwork and resource acquisition is often helpful to translational teams.”
