Simulation guided cell rejuvenation to defeat the diseases of aging
Aging is the largest driver of disease
Aging mechanisms are universal to the major modern diseases (right). Shift will target these mechanisms to ameliorate multiple diseases.
Aging is reversed between generations
Each of us developed from a single cell passed down by our parents, yet we’re not born at our parent’s age and we begin our post-development lives in full health. Somehow the biology from our parents is safely scrubbed, renewed and restarted.
Shift has decoupled cell rejuvenation from tumorgenicity
Yamanaka factors (OSKM) rejuvenate multiple cell types and ameliorate disease phenotypes but are tumorigenic, posing safety concerns for therapeutic development. Shift's AI based cell simulations have discovered novel transcription factors that rejuvenate aged human fibroblasts and maintain their identity (left) whilst decoupling tumorgenicity (below), even when continuously over-expressed.
Shift's AI platform has found 6 novel transcription-factor-based interventions
When combined with accurate cell aging clocks, AI based cell simulations reduce centuries of rejuvenation experiments to years, providing the opportunity to bring forwards a universal therapeutic approach for age-linked diseases. Shift is rapidly mapping all rejuvenating transcription factors to identify common, downstream, druggable targets. We are continuously improving our cell aging clocks and cell simulations with active learning cycles to accelerate future discoveries.
Shift can screen small molecules and cocktails for a rejuvenation mechanism of action
Shift can screen up to 2000 molecules In vitro and over a billion cocktails In silico to test for a cell-rejuvenation mechanism of action, with potential to bring forward a first-in-class therapeutic.
Best in the world for cell simulations and cell aging clocks
Shift has assembled a talented team of research scientists and advisors who are backed by experienced biotech investors.
Senior advisor, Prof U. Toronto, Inventor of the cell simulator single-cell-GPT (scGPT)1
CSO, PhD U. Cambridge, Inventor of the first accurate cell aging clock
Brendan received his PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Cambridge, where his focus was on basic research. First as an intern and then as a founder, Brendan began to prototype single-cell transcriptomic aging clocks, helping forge a new direction for Shift. Since 2021, Brendan has led Shift’s science team in the search for new rejuvenating interventions, with the belief that these discoveries could have a massive impact across healthcare.
Head of ML, MPhil U. Cambridge, Inventor of the most accurate aging clock2
Team
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Daniel IvesCEO, PhD U. Cambridge Mitochondrial biologist turned aging clock advocate
Pantic, Ives, Holt & Spinazzola, Nature Communications 2021
Daniel received his PhD from the University of Cambridge where he focused on the role of mutations in the mitochondrial genome in rare diseases, embracing computational biology to discover a novel therapeutic approach. In 2017 Daniel founded Shift Bioscience and since then has been on a scientific journey from mitochondria to mouse aging clocks to single-cell aging clocks and, finally, to now: leveraging single-cell aging clocks inside cell simulations to explore the combinatorial space of interventions for cell rejuvenation.
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Laurence ReidNon-exec director, previously CEO Decibel Therapeutics, CBO Alnylam Pharaceuticals, General Manager Millennium Pharamceuticals
Laurence has had a successful career in Biotech in Boston (Millennium, Alnylam, Warp Drive, Decibel Tx, Garuda Tx) as CBO and more recently CEO. Laurence excels in mapping new platforms and modalities to strategy for clinical translation and financing.
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Jill RecklessTranslation advisor, CEO RxCelerate, previously Senior Research Associate University of Cambridge
Co-founder and CEO of RxCelerate. Provides strategic vision to RxCelerate Group. Over 20 years’ experience of translational biology and leading drug discovery programmes covering a wide area of therapeutic indications.
