Dana Foss and Ross Wilson are the cofounders of Editpep, a biotech startup focused on developing CRISPR-based therapeutics. They are using a proprietary peptide-based delivery platform that enables targeted delivery to specific cell types, particularly for hard-to-reach areas like the brain.

While Dana Foss is the CEO, Ross Wilson is also an Assistant Adjunct Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology and also the Director of Therapeutic Delivery at the Innovative Genomics Institute at the University of California, Berkeley. He is one of those very few academics that co-founded a startup and is very active in building Editpep. Ross explains how he does it all so well!

Dana was  previously a postdoc in Ross Wilson’s lab, where she developed the technology. Ross was a postdoc in Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna’s lab. Now he has his own lab and collaborates with Jennifer Doudna at the Innovative Genomics Institute. 

In this episode of lab to startup, we will explore their initial decisions that lead to launching the startup; existing CRISPR delivery technologies, their challenges, and then do a deep dive into their delivery technology. opportunities,; fundraising efforts, and their future goals.

Shownotes

• https://www.editpep.bio/
• CRISPR Delivery problem and current solutions
• Existing solutions like AV, LNPs are mostly limited to mice
• Ribonucleoprotein, a complex of RNA and protein (RNP): Technology deep dive
• Outsiders bringing in fresh perspective
• Dana transitioning out of academia: working on a shared goal
• Hard to shepard the technology towards the patient by depending on a third party
• Self motivation and gumption: Ways to move technologies out of the lab
• Early stage co-founder chemistry
• Ross’s innovative role being an academic and entrepreneur
• Fundraising journey
• Open mindedness to non-traditional investors
• Investors: Berkeley Skydeck,  Lindonlight Collective
• Filters for selecting investors
• Getting to market: Parallels from other delivery companies like Alnylam
• Counterintuitive decisions
• Future goals
• Connecting the dots