xista talk | Roland Tschismarov, Loop Lab Bio

Abstract

We at Loop Lab are dedicated to building what we call Self-Amplifying Biologics, or SelfAmps, novel virus-based based therapeutics tailor-made for the treatment of various diseases. To this end, we first identify a safe viral backbone suited to the indication at hand in terms of immunogenicity, replication rate etc. We then exchange the original viral surface receptors to modify tropism for tissue- or cell-type specific delivery, introduce genetic information encoding a disease-specific payload as well as factors modulating local immunity. The SelfAmp is then surface modified during or after production, for increased stability and cloaking from anti-drug responses.

During the talk I would like to talk about how I ended up at Loop Lab and briefly discuss the stages of my academic and industry career that led me here, particularly focusing on the transition to the private sector and what my specific job roles actually entailed.

About the speaker:

Roland Tschismarov is an immunologist with a strong interest in T cell biology and host pathogen interaction. He obtained his PhD from the Medical University Vienna, primarily working on epigenetic regulation of T cell development and function, before joining Max Perutz Labs Vienna as a university assistant/postdoc, focusing on pattern recognition and immune responses to pathogens. He joined Themis Bioscience in 2018, supporting clinical study design, conduct and analysis. After the company's acquisition by MSD in 2020 he was employed as a Principal Scientist working on preclinical development and regulatory interactions. He co-founded Loop Lab Bio in 2023 and currently acts as head of translational research, leading a team of scientists dedicated to bringing the company's vision of novel virus-based medicines into animal models and, ultimately, humans.