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Colossal Biosciences

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Overview

Colossal Biosciences, founded in 2021 by Harvard geneticist Dr. George Church and entrepreneur Ben Lamm, is a pioneering biotechnology company focused on de-extinction and genetic engineering. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company's mission is to combat species extinction through innovative scientific solutions. Key Projects:

  1. Woolly Mammoth Revival: Aims to create a cold-resistant elephant with woolly mammoth traits for Arctic tundra habitation.
  2. Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine) Resurrection: Collaborating with the University of Melbourne to reintroduce the species to Tasmania.
  3. Dodo Bird De-extinction: Working to reconstruct the dodo's DNA for reintroduction in Mauritius. Technology and Methods: Colossal utilizes cutting-edge CRISPR gene-editing technology and synthetic biology. Notable achievements include developing a cure for EEHV (a deadly elephant virus), generating elephant iPSCs, and creating highly edited cells. Leadership and Structure:
  • CEO: Ben Lamm
  • Chief Science Officer: Beth Shapiro
  • Chief Animal Officer: Matt James
  • Chief Marketing Officer: Emily Castel
  • Supported by a distinguished scientific advisory board Funding: Colossal has secured substantial funding, including:
  • $15 million seed round (2021)
  • $60 million Series A (2022)
  • $150 million Series B (2023), valuing the company at over $1 billion Key investors include Thomas Tull, Tim Draper, Tony Robbins, Paris Hilton, and Chris Hemsworth. Conservation and Ethics: The company emphasizes responsible science and collaborates with organizations like Re:wild to ensure ethical rewilding and restoration efforts. Their approach involves consultation with diverse stakeholders, including government bodies, landowners, indigenous groups, and the public. Future Initiatives: Beyond current projects, Colossal plans to revive species such as Castoroides, Arctodus, Steller's sea cow, and the great auk. They are also developing an artificial animal womb and have spun out Form Bio, a software platform for managing complex scientific datasets. Colossal Biosciences stands at the forefront of de-extinction efforts and bioscience innovation, aiming to restore ecological balance and advance genomics and conservation biology.

Leadership Team

Colossal Biosciences boasts a diverse and highly qualified leadership team, combining expertise in genetics, biotechnology, and entrepreneurship. Executive Leadership:

  1. Ben Lamm (Co-founder and CEO): Serial technology entrepreneur with a background in biotechnology and AI.
  2. Dr. George Church (Co-founder): World-renowned geneticist, instrumental in developing CRISPR-Cas9 technology.
  3. Beth Shapiro (Chief Science Officer): Leads research on creating species hybrids with specific traits. Scientific Advisory Board: Comprised of leading experts in various fields, including:
  • Carolyn Bertozzi, Ph.D.: 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Laureate
  • Alta Charo, J.D. and Matthew Liao, Ph.D.: Bioethicists
  • Helen Hobbs, M.D.: Distinguished researcher
  • Austin Gallagher: Marine biologist and shark expert
  • Doris Taylor: Regenerative medicine expert
  • Michael Hofreiter and Fritz Vollrath: Mammoth and elephant genetics specialists
  • Kenneth Lacovara: Paleontologist
  • David Haussler: Bioinformatician
  • Elazar Edelman: Biomedical engineer
  • Joseph DeSimone: Polymer chemist
  • Erez Lieberman Aiden: Computational biologist
  • Christopher E. Mason: Geneticist Executive Advisory Board:
  • Robert Nelsen: Co-founder and Managing Director of ARCH Venture Partners, with extensive experience in biotechnology investments This diverse team brings together expertise in genetics, biotechnology, conservation biology, and ethics, driving Colossal Biosciences' mission of de-extinction and species preservation. Their collective knowledge and experience position the company at the forefront of genetic engineering and conservation efforts.

History

Founding and Early Vision: Colossal Biosciences was established in 2021 by Ben Lamm and Dr. George Church in Dallas, Texas. Their mission: to combat species extinction through innovative genetic engineering and biotechnology. Pre-Foundation Work: Dr. Church's interest in de-extinction dates back to 2008 when he first expressed interest in creating a mammoth-elephant hybrid. His lab's work on CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and successful integration of mammoth genes into elephant DNA laid the groundwork for Colossal's ambitious projects. Key Milestones:

  1. September 13, 2021: Official launch with a $15 million seed round
  2. March 2022: $60 million Series A funding round
  3. January 2023: $150 million Series B funding round, valuing the company at over $1 billion
  4. January 2025: $200 million Series C funding round, elevating valuation to $10.2 billion Major Projects:
  • Woolly Mammoth De-extinction
  • Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine) Revival
  • Dodo Bird Resurrection Technological Advancements:
  • De novo assembled mammoth genome
  • Engineered elephant stem cells
  • Hatched first chimeric chicks for dodo revival
  • Developed genetic engineering and reproductive technologies for conservation Expansion and Collaborations:
  • Facilities in Dallas, Boston, and Melbourne
  • Over 170 scientists employed
  • Partnerships with University of Melbourne and VGP
  • Spin-off of Form Bio, a software platform for managing scientific data Corporate Structure: Led by CEO Ben Lamm, supported by a team of experts including Beth Shapiro (Chief Science Officer), Matt James (Chief Animal Officer), and Emily Castel (Chief Marketing Officer). Colossal Biosciences continues to push the boundaries of genetic engineering and conservation biology, aiming to restore biodiversity and combat extinction through cutting-edge science and technology.

Products & Solutions

Colossal Biosciences is a pioneering biotechnology company focused on de-extinction, species conservation, and environmental remediation. Their key products and solutions include:

  1. De-Extinction and Species Restoration:
  • Utilizing CRISPR technology to recreate extinct species such as the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, northern white rhinoceros, and dodo.
  • Aim to have woolly mammoth hybrid calves by 2028 and reintroduce Tasmanian tigers to their original habitats.
  1. Genetic Engineering and Genome Editing:
  • Employing CRISPR-Cas9 and other genome editing techniques to create accurate disease models, enhance crop resistance, and develop plastic-degrading bacteria.
  1. Environmental Remediation:
  • Engineering plants and organisms with enhanced capabilities to remove contaminants from soil, water, and air.
  • Discovering microbes like X-32 that efficiently break down various plastics.
  1. Advanced Biomedical Devices:
  • Developing innovative biosensors for early disease detection and implantable devices for personalized medicine.
  1. Synthetic Biology and Bioinformatics:
  • Leveraging synthetic biology for novel therapeutics development.
  • Co-founding FormBio, an AI and machine learning platform to accelerate drug discovery.
  1. Conservation Biology and Reproductive Technology:
  • Engineering disease resistance in endangered species.
  • Developing vaccines, including the first mRNA vaccine for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus.
  1. Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research:
  • Advancing embryology and in vitro fertilization techniques.
  • Producing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from elephants and dunnarts.
  1. Biovault and Conservation Initiatives:
  • Establishing the Colossal Foundation, which includes the world's largest distributed biobanking initiative for endangered species. These innovations reflect Colossal Biosciences' commitment to advancing genomics, conservation biology, and environmental sustainability.

Core Technology

Colossal Biosciences focuses on several cutting-edge technologies in de-extinction, genetic engineering, and biological innovations:

  1. Genetic Engineering and Genome Editing:
  • Utilizes CRISPR-Cas9 for precise DNA modification in living species.
  1. De-Extinction Methodology:
  • Maps extinct species' genomes and compares them to living relatives.
  • Edits cells of living relatives to create hybrid embryos with extinct species traits.
  1. Embryology and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF):
  • Advances techniques to support de-extinction efforts.
  • Develops artificial wombs with potential applications in human fertility treatments.
  1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning:
  • Analyzes complex biological data for insights in biodiversity, disease modeling, and drug discovery.
  1. Stem Cell Reprogramming:
  • Converts specialized cells into pluripotent stem cells for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
  1. Conservation and Biodiversity:
  • Develops technologies to enhance endangered species' resilience against various threats.
  1. Environmental Remediation:
  • Engineers organisms capable of breaking down pollutants, including plastic waste.
  1. Bioinformatics and Genomics:
  • Creates sophisticated algorithms for processing large-scale biological data.
  1. Biomedical Devices and Healthcare:
  • Develops advanced biosensors and implantable devices for personalized medicine. Colossal Biosciences' technologies have broad applications in medicine, agriculture, and environmental sustainability, extending beyond the revival of extinct species.

Industry Peers

Colossal Biosciences operates in the biotechnology and genetic engineering sector, focusing on genomics and species de-extinction. While the company's unique focus sets it apart, several firms operate in related fields:

  1. Direct Competitors:
  • Veterinary Clinical Resources: $1.7M revenue, 11 employees
  • Matica Biotechnology: $14.9M revenue, 96 employees
  • Nano: $15.2M revenue, 98 employees
  • Scorpius BioManufacturing: $16.3M revenue, 105 employees
  1. Companies in Similar Spaces:
  • Synthetic Biology and Genetic Engineering: Firms using CRISPR and other advanced genetic tools for disease treatment and biotechnology advancements.
  • Conservation Biology: Organizations working on preserving endangered species and restoring ecosystems.
  1. Collaborators and Spin-offs:
  • Baylor College of Medicine: Collaborates with Colossal on projects like synthesizing elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus.
  • Form Bio: A Colossal spin-out focusing on AI-based software for managing large genetic research datasets. While these companies share similarities in terms of advanced biotechnology, genetic engineering, and conservation biology focus, Colossal Biosciences' unique approach to de-extinction sets it apart in the industry landscape.

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