41 – Sam Cooper, Co-Founder & CTO at Phenomic

Introduction

In a riveting conversation with Jared, Sam Cooper, the founder of Phenomic, delves into the fascinating journey of his company and how they are leveraging artificial intelligence to revolutionize cancer treatment. From humble beginnings in a friend’s spare room to becoming a significant player in the biotech field, Phenomic’s story is one of innovation, persistence, and cutting-edge science.

From Academia to Industry

Sam Cooper’s academic background is impressive, with a PhD from Imperial College London and the Institute of Cancer Research in the UK. His move to Canada marked the beginning of Phenomic, a venture that integrates machine learning and data analysis with advanced biological research. Over the past five to six years, Phenomic has grown to a company with over 20 full-time employees, split between Toronto and Boston.

Bridging AI and Biotech

Phenomic is at the forefront of a new wave in cancer treatment, focusing on the tumor stroma—the connective tissue in cancers. While there are many treatments for liquid tumors, Phenomic aims to tackle more aggressive and dense cancers like pancreatic cancer. This challenging field requires innovative solutions, and Phenomic is leveraging single-cell RNA sequencing data to understand the tumor environment better.

Technological Innovations

The backbone of Phenomic’s approach is their advanced technology stack. By aggregating vast amounts of single-cell genetic data from public sources and employing deep learning libraries like TensorFlow, Phenomic has built a robust repository that enables quick and efficient analysis. Their collaboration with TileDB has been crucial in managing and scaling this massive data efficiently, making significant strides in drug target identification.

Strategic Partnerships and Future Directions

One of the most exciting developments for Phenomic is their partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, which promises to yield groundbreaking new targets and medicines. Internally, Phenomic is also developing their discovery pipeline, aiming to create drugs that significantly impact the tumor stroma and potentially cause the entire cancer to regress.

Advice for Entrepreneurs

Sam Cooper offers invaluable advice for aspiring biotech entrepreneurs. He emphasizes the importance of having experienced partners, focusing on specific problems early, and being strategic about resource allocation. His partnership with Mike Briskin, a seasoned biotech entrepreneur, has been instrumental in navigating the complex process of drug discovery and development.

Conclusion

Phenomic’s journey is a testament to the power of integrating AI with biological research to tackle some of the most challenging problems in cancer treatment. With strategic partnerships, a strong technological foundation, and a clear focus, Phenomic is poised to make significant contributions to the field of oncology. Sam Cooper’s insights and experiences offer a roadmap for others looking to innovate in the biotech industry.