Speaker: Prof. Harvey Lodish, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Departments of Biology and Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology National Academy of Sciences, Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences,Fellow

Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m., Mar 26, 2025, GMT+8

Venue: Youcai Deng Lecture Hall, Jin-Guang Life Science Building, PKU

Abstract: 

I'll begin with a brief history of the biotechnology industry in the United States; a focus will be on the importance of faculty entrepreneurs in starting biotech companies based on research in their own laboratories, and in serving on advisory boards and boards of directors to support the growth of early-stage companies. Essential for the growth of the Cambridge Massachusetts biotech ecosystem was extensive collaborations between research universities, research hospitals, the business and investment communities, and local governments.
I will describe my personal experiences in starting several successful biotech companies, beginning with Genzyme in the 1980's and the production of enzyme replacements for several rare diseases. I'll then discuss Tevard(reverse Dravet), a company 1 started recently with two parents of children with Dravet Syndrome,that is developing suppressor tRNAs as gene therapies to correct nonsense mutations in many genes. Cerberus, a company started by a former PhD student, is developing powerful protein-based therapeutics that both prevent and treat several monogenic autoimmune diseases.
Not all biotechnology companies I have started have been successful, and I'll discuss the failure of Allozyne, a company based on incorporation of non-natural amino acids into recombinant proteins.
Finally I will discuss the importance of courses that teach biotechnology and entrepreneurship to university students in both science and in business programs.

Source: School of Life Sciences, PKU