About
about
Research and innovation across the full spectrum of biotech
Overview
QB3 is one of four California Institutes for Science and Innovation, a multicampus operation with departments on the UC campuses at Berkeley, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz. QB3’s domain is the “quantitative biosciences,” a multidisciplinary area encompassing the study of biology using techniques and technology derived from chemistry, physics, and computer science.
QB3 supports early-stage commercialization in biotech and pharma, and conducts basic and applied research. Commercialization programs, including incorporation, mentorship, and the Bakar Labs incubator, are largely run out of the QB3-Central office, currently at UC Berkeley. QB3 entrepreneurial programs welcome participants and founders from academia and industry, who need not have affiliations with UC.The institute was founded with the goal of laying the foundations of future industry in California.
QB3-Central also coordinates collaborative research bringing together scientists from all three campuses. The three campus divisions operate core facilities and administer research programs. See Research for details.
Our Team
The people who make things happen
Our core team, who run our operations across the spectrum from basic research to startup support. We’re always open to new ideas and initiatives.
David Schaffer, PhD
Executive Director, QB3; Director, Bakar BioEnginuity Hub & Bakar Labs
Regis Kelly, PhD, OBE
Former Executive Director, QB3; Byers Family Distinguished Professor
Jeremy Alberga
COO, QB3, Bakar Labs & Bakar BioEnginuity Hub
Lise Barbé, PhD
Grants Coordinator
Riley Hummel
Deputy Director of Outreach Programs, Bakar Labs & QB3
Katarina Klett, PhD
Innovation Discovery Program Manager
Kaspar Mossman, PhD
Managing Director
Wanichaya (Noem) Noiwangklang
Director of Workforce Development
Erica Yab
Events & Program Specialist
Ed Green, PhD
Director, QB3-Santa Cruz
Spotlight
Startup Alums
We’ve supported biotech startups since 2005 with incubator space, programming, and VC investment.
4D Molecular Therapeutics
4D Molecular Therapeutics develops gene therapies for patients with eye, lung, and heart conditions. The company is currently running four clinical trials, for Fabry disease, X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, and choroidemia, and recruiting for two: for cystic fibrosis and age-related macular degeneration. 4D was incorporated in 2013 through QB3 and incubated at QB3@953 (now an MBC Biolabs location). QB3 executive director David Schaffer is a co-founder.
Caribou Biosciences
Caribou Biosciences, a spinoff from the UC Berkeley lab of Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna, develops off-the-shelf CRISPR genome-edited cell therapies for patients with devastating diseases. The company has two trials in progress of CAR-T cell therapies for multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Caribou was co-founded by CEO Rachel Haurwitz (PhD, UC Berkeley), incorporated through QB3, incubated at two QB3 facilities, and was an early portfolio company of QB3-affiliated VC firm Mission Bay Capital.
Pivot Bio
Pivot Bio manufactures living microbial-based nitrogen fertilizers, produced by fermentation. This replaces the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process, thereby reducing greenhouse emissions. The technology also eliminates toxic fertilizer runoff. Pivot introduced the world’s first nitrogen-producing microbes to U.S. farmers in 2018. Since that time the company has introduced multiple microbial nitrogen products for wheat, sorghum and other small grains in addition to its flagship product for corn. Pivot was co-founded by CEO Karsten Temme (PhD, UC Berkeley) and CTO Alvin Tamsir (PhD, UCSF) and incubated at the QB3 Garage at UCSF.
Bolt Threads
Bolt Threads develops high-performance materials through sustainable, green processes. Their initial product was MicrosilkTM, inspired by spider dragline silk and produced through synthetic biology. Founded by CEO Dan Widmaier (PhD, UCSF), CTO David Breslauer (PhD, UC Berkeley, and Ethan Mirsky (PhD, UCSF), Bolt incubated for several years at the QB3 Garage at UCSF and was one of the Fund I investments by QB3-affiliated VC firm Mission Bay Capital. Further products include MyloTM mushroom leather and B-SilkTM protein, an alternative to silicone elastomers.
Past and Current
Companies
- Seven Starling
- Privail
- Therini Bio
- VenomYx
- Evren Technologies
- Potrero Medical
- Thea Health
- Telo Therapeutics
- Orb
- Principia Biopharma
- EvolveMol
- Nosis Bio
- GT Medical Technologies
- G-Tech Medical
- General Automation Lab Technologies
- Calyx
- Emme
- SiteOne Therapeutics
- Novonate
- Reflexion Pharmaceuticals
- TeselaGen
- CinderBio
- Mekonos
- MiNDERA Corporation
- Valera Health
- Aura Health
- 712 North
- Serotiny
- Caribou Biosciences
- Tueo Health
- AOBiome
- Prellis Biologics
- Aquinox Pharmaceuticals
- Siren Care
- Razzberry
- Teralytic
- Luma Therapeutics
- Tiatros
- Safe H2O
- Cala Health
- ReCreate Bio
- Sano
- Ciznor
- Meissa Vaccines
- Pionyr Immunotherapeutics
- Karuna Labs
- PuraCath Medical
- Ria Health
- Namocell
- Suono Bio
- Perceptive Navigation
- Solidus Bioscience
- Motum
- GraphWear Technologies
- XP Health
- Catalia Health
- Abreos Biosciences
- HPI Biosciences
- Ontera
- Bisu
- Combinati
- Cell Design Labs
- Revitope Oncology
- Concentric Analgesics
- ApniCure
- Nodexus
- Cor
- Knowledge Synthesis
- Profluent Bio
- Fauna Bio
- BioChoric
- Invitae
- ZoneOne Pharma
- iSono Health
- Mae
- Replace Therapeutics
- NeuroSave
- Aromyx
- MyNurse
- Lypro Biosciences
- Pharmajet
- Fluxion Biosciences
- Evercrisp
- Fibralign Corporation
- DotLab
- Tierra Biosciences
- Invenio
- 11 Health
- Tangible Science
- Bikanta
- Ohayo Valley
- DiscoDisc Bio
- Darmiyan
- Pendulum Therapeutics
- Third Pole
- AccuraGen Holdings
- Pivot Bio
- Via Nova Therapeutics
- Satoris
- Noleus Technologies
- HOPO Therapeutics
- Dropprint Genomics
- Scuba Probe Technologies
- Nano Precision Medical
- Opus Bio
- Guided Clarity
- Xip
- Delve Therapeutics
- GenEdit
- Diadem Biotherapeutics
- MD Ally
- SyntheX
- Xcell Biosciences
- Evolva
- Glycomine
- Moving Analytics
- Chrono Therapeutics
- Alpha Medical
- Calithera Biosciences
- Cyclica
- Elenae
- Avisi Technologies
- Siris Medical
- Madorra
- Insamo
- CellFE
- Alector
- Symic Biomedical
- Verinomics
- Perlumi
- Vivace Therapeutics
- Velano Vascular
- Silver Creek Pharmaceuticals
- Photoswitch Biosciences
- Correlia Biosystems
- Samay
- Vicinitas Therapeutics
- AnimalBiome
- UroDev Medical
- Zeto
- 4D Molecular Therapeutics
- BabyNoggin
- Wildtype
- Indee Labs
- Tunitas Therapeutics
- CV Ingenuity
- Kiverdi
- Sontina Medical
- SillaJen
- Encoded Therapeutics
- Novela Neurotech
- Epalex
- Trace Genomics
- Sprint Synthesis
- MetaMixis
- Catena Biosciences
- Axent Biosciences
- Minutia
- mFluiDx
- Visana Health
- Deep Blue Medical Advances
- Vellum Biotechnologies
- Regel Therapeutics
- Intelligent Implants
- Raydiant Oximetry
- DABOmics
- Arterys
- Sampling Human
- Iris Medicine
- Laguna Health
- pH Pharma
- Scribe Biosciences
- Genetic Foresight
- Blumio
- Intact Therapeutics
- Osprey Pharmaceuticals USA
- Exogen Bio
- Arcadia Science
- Spora Health
- Dextera Biosciences
- Scaled Biolabs
- Bolt Threads
- Lucira Health
- Felix Biotechnology
- Coagulant Therapeutics
- HepaTx
- Channel Medsystems
- iPierian
- Engine Biosciences
- Ribogenics
- NeuraLace Medical
- GigaGen
- Aucta Technologies
- Foodsmart
- Nobell Foods
- BillionToOne
- Palisade Therapeutics
- REGiMMUNE
- AEENA Dx
- InnoVein
- Addition Therapeutics
- Mission Bio
- Cibiem
- Liquidity Nanotech
- Delpor
- Auricle
- Script Health
- LogicInk
- Zenflow
- Invenio Imaging
- Safely Health
- Novome Biotechnologies
- Glyphic Biotechnologies
- Carmot Therapeutics
- Aikium
- Survey Genomics
- ARIZ Precision Medicine
- SeaChange Pharmaceuticals
- Lygos
- ChemiSense
- Black Sheep Foods
- Droplet
- Sequenta
- OncoSynergy
- Aluna
- KuriBio
- Cypre
- Bloomlife
- Chameleon Biosciences
- Sublime Therapeutics
- ResVita Bio
- Andes Biotechnologies
- Zephyrus Biosciences
- imvaria
- Miroculus
- Ripple Foods
- Kenota Health
- Blueprint Genetics
- Valitor
- Signum Surgical
- Globavir
- Umaro Foods
- OOTify
- Perlara
- Siluria Technologies
- Alessa Therapeutics
- Shade
- Allotrope Medical
- Endometrics
- EYSZ
- Zoetic Data
- InnaMed
- Shasqi
- Siolta Therapeutics
- Allopartis
- Eidos Therapeutics
- Omniox
- Mission Barns
- Bell Biosystems
- Applaud Medical
- Inapill
- iMicrobes
- River Health
- Jennerex Biotherapeutics
- Unnatural Products
- Olfa Thera
- Multerra Bio
- Gemmus Pharma
- Delinia
- Obsidio
- Provenance Biopharmaceuticals
- Aurora Bio
- Genesis DNA
- YourChoice Therapeutics
- Zymergen
- Concha Labs
- Assembly Biosciences
- Radar Therapeutics
- Amarantus BioSciences
- Omni Therapeutics
- True North Therapeutics
- ViewPoint Therapeutics
- Ablexis
- Precision NanoSystem
- OneSkin
- Fountain Therapeutics
- Lully
- Ray Therapeutics
- Effector Therapeutics
- Riffyn
- Digbi Health
- Phyla
- Redwood Bioscience
- CellSight Technologies
- Panazee
- Alio
- Kilimanjaro Energy
- Circle Pharma
- InkSpace Imaging
- Atreca
- Catena Biosciences
- CureMetrix
- Fullmoon Sensors