Biotech Briefing: UCSD Researchers Find Non-Coding DNA Mutations Can Cause Cancer

Plus: Scripps research grad school recognized as Top 10 for chemistry and biology, and Wisconsin startup moves to San Diego

Reports + Research

Poseida Raises $30.5 Million for Second Generation CAR-T Therapies

The clinical-stage company raised $30.5 million in a Series B financing, led by Longitude Capital, with additional new investors Vivo Capital and the Tavistock Group, and existing investor Malin Corporation. The proceeds will be used to advance preclinical and clinical studies of the company’s autologous and allogeneic CAR-T immunotherapies, as well as gene therapies.

UC San Diego Researchers Find Non-Coding DNA Mutations Can Cause Cancer

Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center have identified nearly 200 mutations in non-coding DNA that play a functional role in cancer and could represent new opportunities for molecularly targeted therapeutics.

Wisconsin Startup Moves to San Diego and Wins EvoNexus Best Demo

In January, University of Wisconsin startup Lynx Biosciences moved to San Diego to advance their microfluidic technology to optimize cancer treatment regimens. Now in the process of raising seed funding, Lynx competed in EvoNexus Spring Demo Day, where founder and CEO Chorom Pak won the audience vote for best pitch. According to Xconomy, the startup has been admitted to both the EvoNexus technology incubator and the JLABS innovation program for life sciences startups in San Diego.

Scripps Research Grad School Recognized as Top 10 for Chemistry and Biology

The U.S. News & World Report ranked The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Science at The Scripps Research Institute as a top 10 educational center in the nation for chemistry and biology. The ranking is further broken down for each area and subspecialties.

Read + Listen

POW! Podcast of the Week

What is CAR-T therapy and why is it such a big breakthrough for cancer? This podcast from Novel Targets talks with Dr. Carl June and Dr. Steven Rosenberg about adoptive cell therapy.