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.
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
- CinderBio
- OOTify
- Auricle
- Ciznor
- InnaMed
- Invenio
- Sampling Human
- Zeto
- Mekonos
- DotLab
- Principia Biopharma
- Avisi Technologies
- Blumio
- Unnatural Products
- Revitope Oncology
- ViewPoint Therapeutics
- Aromyx
- Nobell Foods
- Omni Therapeutics
- Siren Care
- Reflexion Pharmaceuticals
- Via Nova Therapeutics
- Nodexus
- Zymergen
- Alio
- Madorra
- Delve Therapeutics
- Droplet
- Profluent Bio
- Aura Health
- Namocell
- InkSpace Imaging
- mFluiDx
- Evolva
- Novonate
- Zephyrus Biosciences
- Exogen Bio
- SiteOne Therapeutics
- ARIZ Precision Medicine
- Cypre
- Nano Precision Medical
- Coagulant Therapeutics
- Andes Biotechnologies
- Lully
- Mission Barns
- imvaria
- Cala Health
- Novela Neurotech
- Tiatros
- Applaud Medical
- 712 North
- Perceptive Navigation
- Umaro Foods
- SyntheX
- Effector Therapeutics
- Riffyn
- Fauna Bio
- Tierra Biosciences
- Solidus Bioscience
- Pendulum Therapeutics
- SillaJen
- Opus Bio
- General Automation Lab Technologies
- Liquidity Nanotech
- Epalex
- Encoded Therapeutics
- CellFE
- AEENA Dx
- Scaled Biolabs
- Regel Therapeutics
- Ohayo Valley
- Intelligent Implants
- GraphWear Technologies
- Glycomine
- MetaMixis
- Atreca
- Vellum Biotechnologies
- Endometrics
- Seven Starling
- Caribou Biosciences
- Dextera Biosciences
- Survey Genomics
- KuriBio
- Arterys
- Bell Biosystems
- Silver Creek Pharmaceuticals
- Indee Labs
- Kilimanjaro Energy
- Knowledge Synthesis
- Telo Therapeutics
- Minutia
- Inapill
- Fibralign Corporation
- Alector
- Ria Health
- Pharmajet
- MiNDERA Corporation
- Siolta Therapeutics
- Sublime Therapeutics
- Invenio Imaging
- HOPO Therapeutics
- Valitor
- Osprey Pharmaceuticals USA
- Siluria Technologies
- Safely Health
- Zoetic Data
- HPI Biosciences
- Obsidio
- REGiMMUNE
- Provenance Biopharmaceuticals
- Calyx
- Combinati
- Aluna
- Satoris
- Sprint Synthesis
- Aurora Bio
- Sano
- Lucira Health
- Shade
- CellSight Technologies
- ChemiSense
- VenomYx
- SeaChange Pharmaceuticals
- Ribogenics
- Fullmoon Sensors
- Xip
- ResVita Bio
- Lygos
- Samay
- Radar Therapeutics
- Glyphic Biotechnologies
- Amarantus BioSciences
- EYSZ
- Ontera
- Luma Therapeutics
- Shasqi
- Blueprint Genetics
- GenEdit
- NeuroSave
- Alpha Medical
- Bolt Threads
- YourChoice Therapeutics
- Carmot Therapeutics
- Vivace Therapeutics
- Siris Medical
- Omniox
- Symic Biomedical
- Therini Bio
- Chameleon Biosciences
- OncoSynergy
- Suono Bio
- TeselaGen
- 11 Health
- Diadem Biotherapeutics
- InnoVein
- Catena Biosciences
- Novome Biotechnologies
- Evercrisp
- Emme
- Privail
- Precision NanoSystem
- Mekonos
- Chrono Therapeutics
- Miroculus
- GT Medical Technologies
- Phyla
- 4D Molecular Therapeutics
- Felix Biotechnology
- Razzberry
- Delpor
- Nosis Bio
- Photoswitch Biosciences
- Serotiny
- Correlia Biosystems
- UroDev Medical
- NeuraLace Medical
- Teralytic
- Zenflow
- Lypro Biosciences
- Addition Therapeutics
- Calithera Biosciences
- Raydiant Oximetry
- Tangible Science
- Iris Medicine
- Catalia Health
- Cibiem
- Fountain Therapeutics
- River Health
- BillionToOne
- Channel Medsystems
- BabyNoggin
- Kenota Health
- Thea Health
- Eidos Therapeutics
- CureMetrix
- Aikium
- Visana Health
- Ripple Foods
- Allopartis
- Gemmus Pharma
- Perlumi
- Ablexis
- Jennerex Biotherapeutics
- Bisu
- MyNurse
- GigaGen
- MD Ally
- Olfa Thera
- Tunitas Therapeutics
- iSono Health
- Aucta Technologies
- Concha Labs
- Darmiyan
- Genesis DNA
- Trace Genomics
- BioChoric
- True North Therapeutics
- Spora Health
- Meissa Vaccines
- Allotrope Medical
- HepaTx
- Cyclica
- pH Pharma
- Vicinitas Therapeutics
- Engine Biosciences
- AnimalBiome
- Mae
- Cell Design Labs
- DABOmics
- Safe H2O
- Perlara
- Wildtype
- Aquinox Pharmaceuticals
- Evren Technologies
- Laguna Health
- Assembly Biosciences
- Motum
- AOBiome
- Cor
- Alessa Therapeutics
- Genetic Foresight
- Foodsmart
- EvolveMol
- Script Health
- Scuba Probe Technologies
- Valera Health
- Scribe Biosciences
- Minutia
- Ray Therapeutics
- Noleus Technologies
- Multerra Bio
- Redwood Bioscience
- Insamo
- Arcadia Science
- ApniCure
- Orb
- CV Ingenuity
- Karuna Labs
- AccuraGen Holdings
- Deep Blue Medical Advances
- Sequenta
- Xcell Biosciences
- Prellis Biologics
- Kiverdi
- Dropprint Genomics
- PuraCath Medical
- Panazee
- Catena Biosciences
- Mission Bio
- LogicInk
- Signum Surgical
- DiscoDisc Bio
- Moving Analytics
- Abreos Biosciences
- G-Tech Medical
- Velano Vascular
- Intact Therapeutics
- Sontina Medical
- iPierian
- Guided Clarity
- Concentric Analgesics
- Third Pole
- Verinomics
- Bikanta
- Globavir
- Tueo Health
- Palisade Therapeutics
- Potrero Medical
- XP Health
- Axent Biosciences
- ReCreate Bio
- iMicrobes
- Delinia
- Fluxion Biosciences
- Digbi Health
- Invitae
- Bloomlife
- Replace Therapeutics
- Elenae
- Pivot Bio
- Pionyr Immunotherapeutics
- Circle Pharma
- Black Sheep Foods
- OneSkin