AI x Biology Workshop
2025

Mariëlle is a scientist, engineer and entrepreneur who aims to develop transformative technology that will accelerate progress in the longevity community, move the frontiers of synthetic biology, and shape commercial initiatives that target mitochondrial disease and dysfunction. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Stanford University, Mariëlle set out to deduce and employ gene regulatory networks in human cells at RNA isoform resolution to improve human health.

Dr. Zihao Ou is an Assistant Professor in the Biomedical Science Program and the Department of Physics at the University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Ou’s research focus lies at the intersection of fundamental physical principles and cutting-edge genetic and molecular advancements. His goal is to create advanced imaging platforms that allow real-time monitoring of materials and biological processes in their native environments.

Dr. Sam Rodriques is a physicist, bioengineer, and entrepreneur with extensive experience in academic research and biotechnology innovation. He is the founder and CEO of FutureHouse, a research lab in San Francisco dedicated to developing an AI Scientist to accelerate scientific discovery. Before establishing FutureHouse in 2023, Dr. Rodriques led the Applied Biotechnology Laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute, where he focused on integrating bioengineering and business to advance medical and biological research. His notable inventions include technologies for spatial and temporal transcriptomics, brain mapping, gene therapy, and nanofabrication. Throughout his career, Dr. Rodriques has been committed to accelerating scientific research through innovative technologies and interdisciplinary approaches. His work aims to revolutionize the pace of discovery and provide global access to cutting-edge scientific, medical, and engineering expertise.

Dr. Morgan Levine is a prominent scientist specializing in the biology of aging, with extensive experience in academic research and computational biology. She currently serves as the Vice President of Computation at Altos Labs, a biotechnology company focused on restoring cell health and resilience through cell rejuvenation. Dr. Levine's scientific background encompasses bioinformatics, cellular biology, complex systems, and biostatistics. She is renowned for developing innovative methods to quantify the molecular and physiological changes that occur over an organism's lifetime, integrating interdisciplinary approaches to track the trajectories of aging cells and organisms. Her vision includes creating multi-scale computational models to elucidate how dynamic molecular states of cells lead to health and disease manifestations at various biological levels. Her work aims to uncover the principles of aging and develop interventions to promote healthy longevity.

Alexandru Băcița is a scientist and entrepreneur with extensive experience in drug discovery and development. He is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of The Cat Health Company (TCHC), a biotech startup dedicated to extending feline longevity through innovative therapies. Before co-founding TCHC, Alexandru served as a Senior Scientist at Charles River Laboratories, a leading provider of services for drug discovery and clinical trials. At TCHC, Alexandru focuses on developing computational pipelines to predict new therapies for rare diseases and age-related conditions in cats. His work aims to enhance feline health and longevity, providing pets with longer, healthier lives

Alexandrul-Ioan Voda, DPhil, is a passionate leader in regenerative medicine, bioinformatics, and biotech. As CEO of The Cat Health Company, Alex leverages a diverse skill set combining wet-lab and computational sciences to drive advancements in biomedical research. A coding aficionado fluent in Python, R, and Bash, Alex specializes in machine learning, data structures, and algorithms. With a DPhil from the University of Oxford, he has contributed to groundbreaking work in inflammatory bowel disease genetics, aging clocks, and human health. His experience spans both academic and industry sectors, with a strong focus on innovation and scientific leadership.

John Cumbers is a British molecular biologist and entrepreneur based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the founder and CEO of SynBioBeta, an organization that promotes synthetic biology to build a more sustainable universe. John also founded BetaSpace, a space settlement innovation network, and is an operating partner at DCVC, a venture capital firm focused on biotechnology investments. His work at NASA and his contributions to synthetic biology have earned him multiple awards and recognition in the field.

Derya Unutmaz, MD, is a distinguished professor at The Jackson Laboratory, renowned for his pioneering work on human T cell differentiation, activation, and regulation in immunity, diseases, and aging. With a medical degree from Marmara University, Istanbul, he also holds a concurrent professorship at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Dr. Unutmaz’s research has transformed understanding of T cell dysfunction in diseases like HIV and chronic fatigue syndrome. His work aims to optimize immune responses and develop therapies that combat age-related diseases, advancing healthier aging and immune system treatments.

Alfredo Andere is the co-founder and CEO of LatchBio, a platform that provides biology companies with the tools to store, transform, and analyze large data sets. Before founding LatchBio, he worked as a Data Engineer at Facebook and a Software Engineer at Google Brain, gaining valuable experience in handling large-scale data. Alfredo and his co-founders envisioned bringing high-quality computational infrastructure to the field of biology, and they dropped out of their senior year at UC Berkeley to pursue this goal. Since its inception, LatchBio has raised significant funding and serves numerous biotech companies.

Daniel Ives is the CEO and founder of Shift Bioscience, a company dedicated to reversing cellular aging using AI-guided cellular rejuvenation techniques. With a background in mitochondrial biology from the University of Cambridge, Daniel has been at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to combat age-related diseases. His work focuses on leveraging advanced machine learning and epigenetic aging clocks to discover new therapeutic interventions that can extend human healthspan.

Allison Duettmann is the President and CEO of the Foresight Institute, where she directs programs on Intelligent Cooperation, Molecular Machines, Biotech & Health Extension, Neurotech, and Space Programs. She is also the Founder of Existential Hope and has co-edited works on superintelligence and co-authored books on future technologies. Allison holds an MS in Philosophy & Public Policy from the London School of Economics, focusing on AI Safety. She is a prominent advocate for leveraging technology to create a positive long-term future for humanity.

Joe Betts-LaCroix is an American scientist and entrepreneur known for his discoveries in biophysics and for creating the world's smallest personal computer. He is currently the co-founder and CEO of Retro Biosciences, a company focused on developing therapeutics to increase healthy human lifespan by ten years. Joe has a background in earth sciences, biophysics, and computer hardware, and has contributed to significant advancements in both scientific research and technology innovation.