A Cambridge startup, Shift Bioscience, explores AI for ageing reversal.
- The company has raised £12m in funding led by the Business Growth Fund.
- Shift Bioscience focuses on cellular reprogramming to tackle age-related illnesses.
- Generative AI models help predict gene sets for cell rejuvenation.
- The investment supports one of the earliest biotech funding rounds in cell simulation.
Shift Bioscience, a startup based in Cambridge, is at the forefront of using generative AI technologies to potentially reverse the ageing process. The company was established in 2017 and is actively investigating how these AI models can rejuvenate cells by influencing gene activation. The initiative seeks to combat age-related diseases by understanding the genetic factors that can safely reverse cellular ageing.
Recently, Shift Bioscience announced a successful seed funding round, raising £12 million. This funding was primarily led by the Business Growth Fund, with significant contributions from F-Prime Capital, Kindred Capital, and Jonathan Milner, the founder of Abcam. This financial support is intended to accelerate the development of the company’s AI cell simulation platform, a tool designed to simulate and predict effective gene combinations for cell rejuvenation.
The need for such innovation stems from demographic statistics reported by the Centre for Ageing Better, highlighting that 40% of the English population is over the age of 50, with 20% surpassing 65. This demographic shift has led to a heightened prevalence of age-related conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and osteoarthritis. Shift Bioscience believes that cellular reprogramming can mitigate these health issues by restoring cellular function.
Dr Daniel Ives, CEO of Shift Bioscience, stated, “Our technology is addressing the current limitations of cellular reprogramming for the treatment of age-related illnesses.” By integrating machine learning with laboratory-based biology, Shift Bioscience’s platform represents a promising advance in addressing the challenges posed by ageing.
Tim Rea, the head of early-stage investments at BGF, remarked on the significance of their investment, noting the potential of combining AI with biological sciences to treat age-related diseases effectively. Additionally, as part of the funding deal, Jonathan Milner has joined the company’s board of directors, bringing valuable expertise and guidance to the startup.
Shift Bioscience’s innovative approach signifies a notable advancement in the field of biotechnology, particularly in addressing age-related health challenges.
