Eterna Biologics' platform technology enables therapeutic targeting of previously undruggable post-transcriptional mechanisms involving both coding and non-coding RNAs.
Backed by Nucleate, Conception X, and BlueYard Capital, the company is building an advanced suite of RNA platform technology that integrates engineered RNA-targeting CRISPR systems, innovative delivery mechanisms, and cutting-edge computational prediction tools for rapid identification of targetable RNA sequences. The company was founded based on groundbreaking research in CRISPR technology at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine and the University of Oxford.
Meet the Founders:
Dr. Muhammad Hanifi
Dr. Muhammad Hanifi (Hanifi) joins Eterna Biologics as a co-founder and CEO. He will lead the development of platform technology, oversee scientific operations, and guide the company's scientific strategy. Before joining Eterna Biologics, Hanifi completed his medical training and secured a competitive oncology training post at Johns Hopkins Singapore. After completing his training, he came to Oxford to complete his DPhil with research focusing on developing RNA-targeting technologies. His academic work led to the prestigious Ita Askonas Medal in 2022 and laid the groundwork for Eterna Biologics' platform technology.
Dr. Daniel Fountain
Dr. Daniel Fountain (Dan) joins Eterna Biologics as a co-founder and COO. He will oversee the company's day-to-day operations, lead target indication selection, and develop the company's route-to-clinic strategy. Before joining Eterna, Dan studied at the London School of Economics (LSE) and worked in EMEA market strategy in consumer health at Procter & Gamble. He later returned to the UK to study medicine at the University of Cambridge. He secured competitive academic clinical training posts in neurosurgery. Dan has extensive experience leading multi-centre clinical studies in the UK, including establishing the first national registry to improve outcomes for patients undergoing cranioplasty.
Prof. Tatjana Sauka-Spengler
Prof. Tatjana Sauka-Spengler (Tatjana) is a global leader in RNA biology and gene regulatory networks, with expertise in genetic engineering, single-cell biology, and machine-learning bioinformatics. She holds dual professorships at the University of Oxford and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. Tatjana will play a crucial role at Eterna Biologics as a co-founder and the Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). She will guide the optimisation of the CRISPR-Lock platform and identify key regulatory elements of target RNAs.
In the last few years, we've just started to see the incredible potential that RNA therapeutics could bring to the future of medicine and how we approach treating diseases. Since day one, Eterna has been focusing on advancing our CRISPR RNA technology platform to identify the most promising opportunities with our initial target indication so we can get these innovations to patients as safely and efficiently as possible. We're really excited to continue our experimental work at BioEscalator, which has been instrumental in enabling early-stage spinouts like us to generate new data efficiently. We are also grateful for the support from the University of Oxford, BlueYard Capital, and such an exceptional group of advisors at Nucleate and Conception X that supports us to grow quickly and broaden our platform and target indication in meaningful ways.
Dr. Muhammad Hanifi (Hanifi), Co-founder and CEO, Eterna Biologics.