QureTech Bio’s vision is to develop first-in -class drugs to combat infectious diseases and the occurrence of antibiotic resistance
QureTech Bio is founded on world-leading research from groups based at Umeå University, Sweden, and Washington University, St Louis, USA. Since the foundation, several key persons have joined the company either as board members, researchers, or scientific advisors.
The company has received soft funding from Umeå Biotech Incubator, the European Union Horizon 2020 program SME Instrument Phase 1, Swelife (a strategic innovation program funded by the Swedish innovation agency Vinnova), and by the ENABLE-2 program (via Vinnova).
Board of Directors
Lennart Hansson
Chairman
LENNART HANSSON | CHAIRMAN
Board member since 2023. Chairman of the Board since 2024.
Lennart Hansson is former head of Life Science Investments at Industrifonden, one of Sweden’s largest venture funds. Previously he has more than 30 years’ experience in the pharma and biotech industry in executive positions at KabiGen, Symbicom AB, AstraZeneca AB, Karolinska Development AB and BioVitrum AB and as CEO for Arexis AB. He has a PhD in Genetics from Umeå University.
Other current assignments: Hansson is chairman of the board of Cinclus Pharma Holding AB, Sixera Pharma AB and Ignitus AB, as well as board member of Medivir AB.
Ulf Björklund
Board member
ULF BJÖRKLUND | BOARD MEMBER
Board member since 2023.
Ulf Björklund has more than 35 years of experience from the pharmaceutical industry from research, development and marketing of pharmaceuticals to diagnostics. Previous engagements include CEO of Aprea in oncology and CEO of OxyPharma in autoimmune diseases. Prior to that, he held several senior positions at Pharmacia in clinical research covering many therapeutic areas. Ulf Björklund has additional experience in organization partner collaborations, financing and communication with regulatory authorities in Europe and the USA.
Ulf is currently chairman of the board of Lipum AB and Stayble Therapeutics AB, CEO at UB-consulting AB, CMO at Redwood Pharma AB. Ulf has a Pharmacy degree at Uppsala University.
Yijing Sun Hultgren
Board member
YIJING SUN HULTGREN | BOARD MEMBER
Board member since 2023.
Yijing Sun Hultgren has over a decade of experience in finance. In her most recent role, she ran $350mm as a portfolio manager for Millennium, a US hedge fund with $58bn assets under management. Her background is in public equity investing and investment banking. Yijing graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Math and Economics.
Erik Gozzi
Board member
ERIK GOZZI | BOARD MEMBER
Board member since 2021.
Erik Gozzi is the CEO at Nascent Invest, an early-stage investor with a focus on the Life Science sector that invest in high performance teams with a unique position in a global strong revenue growth market.
Scott Hultgren
Board member
SCOTT HULTGREN | BOARD MEMBER
Scott Hultgren, one of the co-founders of QureTech Bio, is the Helen Lehbrink Stoever Professor of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University in St. Louis where he also serves as the inaugural Director of the Center for Women’s Infectious Disease Research. He has received a number of accomplishment awards, including a Distinguished Investigator Award at Washington University, the Eli Lilly Microbiology Award, and ”The Fellows Award” that recognizes distinguished individuals for outstanding achievements in science by the St. Louis Science Academy. He was elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2009, the National Academy of Sciences in 2011, the National Academy of Medicine in 2017, the National Academy of Inventors in 2020 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2023.
The Hultgren lab are blending multiple scientific disciplines to elucidate bacterial and host mechanisms that determine the onset, course and outcome of interactions between the host urinary tract and bacterial pathogens
Fredrik Almqvist
Board member
FREDRIK ALMQVIST | BOARD MEMBER
Fredrik Almqvist is the Research Director and co-founder of QureTech Bio AB. Fredrik Almqvist is currently Professor in Organic Chemistry at Umeå University Sweden and Co-Director of the Laboratories for Chemical Biology Umeå. His research program focuses on method development in organic synthesis and design of molecules that interact with macromolecules, in particular, inhibition of protein-protein interactions. Dr. Almqvist has been awarded the prestigious Göran Gustafsson Award by the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences. Founder of the company SpinChem AB (previously named Nordic ChemQuest AB).
Founders
Scott Hultgren
SCOTT HULTGREN | Professor
Scott Hultgren, one of the co-founders of QureTech Bio, is the Helen Lehbrink Stoever Professor of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University in St. Louis where he also serves as the inaugural Director of the Center for Women’s Infectious Disease Research. He has received a number of accomplishment awards, including a Distinguished Investigator Award at Washington University, the Eli Lilly Microbiology Award, and ”The Fellows Award” that recognizes distinguished individuals for outstanding achievements in science by the St. Louis Science Academy. He was elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2009, the National Academy of Sciences in 2011, the National Academy of Medicine in 2017, the National Academy of Inventors in 2020 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2023.
The Hultgren lab are blending multiple scientific disciplines to elucidate bacterial and host mechanisms that determine the onset, course and outcome of interactions between the host urinary tract and bacterial pathogens
Fredrik Almqvist
FREDRIK ALMQVIST | BOARD MEMBER
Fredrik Almqvist is the Research Director and co-founder of QureTech Bio AB. Fredrik Almqvist is currently Professor in Organic Chemistry at Umeå University Sweden and Co-Director of the Laboratories for Chemical Biology Umeå. His research program focuses on method development in organic synthesis and design of molecules that interact with macromolecules, in particular, inhibition of protein-protein interactions. Dr. Almqvist has been awarded the prestigious Göran Gustafsson Award by the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences. Founder of the company SpinChem AB (previously named Nordic ChemQuest AB).
Sven Bergström
SVEN BERGSTRÖM | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Sven Bergström, Chairman and co-founder, is a Professor in Microbiology at Umeå University, Sweden, and former Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology. His research group has an ongoing project on the virulence properties of Chlamydia spp., with aims to develop novel strategies for the treatment of Chlamydial infections. This research displays great potential for the development of new antibacterial agents. His previous research on Lyme disease Borrelia was instrumental for the development of the first generation of a human Lyme disease vaccine that still is commercially available in the USA as a canine vaccine.
Jörgen Johansson
JÖRGEN JOHANSSON | PROFESSOR
Jörgen Johansson is Professor in Molecular Microbiology at the Department of Molecular Biology and Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS) at Umeå University and a co-founder of QureTech Bio. The Johansson group uses the Gram-positive bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes as a model system to study RNA-biology, stress-regulation and to identify novel antivirulence compounds. The group has identified and characterized several aspects of RNA regulation resulting in high impact publications (Cell, Nature, PNAS). The group recently described a blue-light receptor that Listeria uses to sense light and adjust its stress-response. Together with Prof. Almqvist, the Johansson group has identified several 2-pyridone compounds able to block Listeria virulence gene expression by binding the main transcriptional regulator. In 2010, Prof. Johansson received the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant.
Christina Stallings
CHRISTINA STALLINGS | BOARD MEMBER
Christina Stallings is a Professor of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University in St. Louis. Her research program focuses on molecular pathogenesis of mycobacteria, with a particular interest in identifying, characterizing, and targeting pathways required by the bacteria to persist in the patient. She has identified a number of factors involved in mycobacterial stress responses and persistence and has been awarded multiple NIH grants to fund work in these areas. For her innovative work in these areas, Dr. Stallings has been awarded a prestigious Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Young Investigator Award, which provides research support to the most promising young faculty members in the early stages of their academic careers.
QureTech Bio Staff
Helén Fält
CEO
HELÉN FÄLT | CEO
Helén Fält has over 30 years of experience in the Life Science area, both from research and industry. She has researched in the field of medical chemistry and pediatrics, worked primarily with proteins as a research engineer in a startup and at AstraZeneca. She has worked with small and large companies in her role as project manager for contract manufacturing of clinical trial pharmaceuticals within APL. In her previous role as business coach at Umeå Biotech Incubator, she used her broad experience and network to find expertise and funding to support growth of early startups within pharmaceuticals, medicaltechnology and diagnostics. Board member of BEAM Alliance. Chairwoman of Sweden Bios expert network of Pandemic Preparedness
Annica Rönnbäck
COO
ANNICA RÖNNBÄCK | COO
Annica Rönnbäck, COO, received her Ph.D. at Umeå University in 2004 and continued as a researcher at the Alzheimer Disease Research Center at Karolinska Institutet. Prior to her role at QureTech Bio she had the responsibility of Project Manager for incubator cases at Umeå Biotech Incubator (including QureTech Bio from Jan-Dec 2018).
Mari Bonde
Senior Scientist,
Molecular biology
MARI BONDE | PHD
Mari Bonde, PhD, Senior Scientist, Molecular Biology. Mari has a broad knowledge of the GmPcides as she has been involved in the development of the GmPcides from the very early examples. She has been working with GmPcide SAR determination primarily in S. aureus and E. faecalis as well as studying the cytotoxicity of the compounds. GmPcide target and MoA studies is also within her expertise. In her academic career, basic research of the gram-negative bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi was her focus.
Souvik Sarkar
Senior Scientist, Chemisty
SOUVIK SARKAR | SENIOR SCIENTIST, CHEMISTRY
Souvik Sarkar, PhD, Senior Scientist, Chemistry. Prior to his position at QureTech Bio, Souvik served as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the laboratory of Fredrik Almqvist. Throughout his academic journey, his expertise has been on the advancement of inhibitors targeting M. tuberculosis. His skill set encompasses the development of novel transformations facilitating the synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant compounds. His works with the strategic design and synthesis of novel chemical entities specifically tailored to combat the challenges posed by methicillin-resistant S. aureus and E. faecalis.
Hasan Tükenmez
Senior Scientist,
Molecular biology
HASAN TUKENMEZ | SENIOR SCIENTIST, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Hasan Tükenmez, PhD, Senior Scientist, Molecular Biology. Hasan has a strong background in yeast genetics and previous working experience with Mycobacterium marinum and biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. He has also worked with pathogenic gram-positive bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis as well as gram-negative uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) UTI89.
Affiliated Scientists
Scott Hultgren
Professor
SCOTT HULTGREN | Professor
Scott Hultgren, one of the co-founders of QureTech Bio, is the Helen Lehbrink Stoever Professor of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University in St. Louis where he also serves as the inaugural Director of the Center for Women’s Infectious Disease Research. He has received a number of accomplishment awards, including a Distinguished Investigator Award at Washington University, the Eli Lilly Microbiology Award, and ”The Fellows Award” that recognizes distinguished individuals for outstanding achievements in science by the St. Louis Science Academy. He was elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2009, the National Academy of Sciences in 2011, the National Academy of Medicine in 2017, the National Academy of Inventors in 2020 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2023.
The Hultgren lab are blending multiple scientific disciplines to elucidate bacterial and host mechanisms that determine the onset, course and outcome of interactions between the host urinary tract and bacterial pathogens
Fredrik Almqvist
Professor
FREDRIK ALMQVIST | PROFESSOR
The research interests in the Almqvist lab focus on method developments in organic synthesis and design and synthesis of molecules that interact with macromolecules, in particular inhibition of protein-protein interactions.
Sven Bergström
Professor
SVEN BERGSTRÖM | PROFESSOR
The Bergström group is studying the infectious and virulence properties of Borrelia spirochete and the intracellular parasite Chlamydia.
Jörgen Johansson
Professor
JÖRGEN JOHANSSON | PROFESSOR
Jörgen Johansson is Professor in Molecular Microbiology at the Department of Molecular Biology and Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS) at Umeå University and a co-founder of QureTech Bio. The Johansson group uses the Gram-positive bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes as a model system to study RNA-biology, stress-regulation and to identify novel antivirulence compounds. The group has identified and characterized several aspects of RNA regulation resulting in high impact publications (Cell, Nature, PNAS). The group recently described a blue-light receptor that Listeria uses to sense light and adjust its stress-response. Together with Prof. Almqvist, the Johansson group has identified several 2-pyridone compounds able to block Listeria virulence gene expression by binding the main transcriptional regulator. In 2010, Prof. Johansson received the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant.
Christina Stallings
Professor
CHRISTINA STALLINGS | PROFESSOR
The Stallings Laboratory is focusing on the molecular details of Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis, from the perspective of both the host and the pathogen
Michael Caparon
Professor
MICHAEL CAPARON | PROFESSOR
Michael Caparon is currently a Professor of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University St. Louis, and in 2009 co-founded the Center for Women’s Infectious Disease Research (cWIDR) with Scott Hultgren and serves as its Associate Director. Michael’s work has been highly collaborative and interdisciplinary, and has focused on applying newly developed molecular tools to understanding how virulence factors interact with host cells and tissues and how bacterial adhesins, toxins and their transcriptional regulatory programs contribute to pathogenesis through the temporal and spatial remodelling of the host-pathogen interaction.
Ana Flores-Mireles
Assistant Professor
ANA FLORES-MIRELES | ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Ana Flores-Mireles is Assistant Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame. Her research specialties include CAUTI. Her lab is interested in understanding how urinary catheterization-induced inflammation renders the host susceptible to microbial infection of the urinary tract and subsequent dissemination.
Björn Olsen
Professor
BJÖRN OLSEN | PROFESSOR
Björn Olsen is Head Physician at Uppsala University Hospital, and a Professor and senior consultant at the Department of Medical Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Co-Director of Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University. Olsen has a profound experience of media contact and well-functioning networks. He has published 150 popular scientific papers on primarily infectious diseases in various journals.
Matthew Chapman
Professor
MATTHEW CHAPMAN | Professor
Matthew Chapman is Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He received his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1999 and was a Keck and NIH Fellow at Washington University in St. Louis from 1999- 2003. He is a specialist within protein mis-folding and amyloid formation.
Jerry Pinkner
M.S.
JERRY PINKNER | M.S.
Jerome Pinkner has been Lab Manager at the Hultgren labs for more than 25 years. He is Director of the Protein Purification Facility and has a long experience of running industrial collaborations and technology transfer processes. He is a well recognized Pilicide, Curlicide, Mannoside program specialist.
Member of
BEAM Alliance represents over 70 European small and medium-sized companies that develop solutions to fight antimicrobial resistance at a European and national level. The goal of the BEAM Alliance is to maintain and promote awareness of SMEdriven innovation in the field and to support policymakers in understanding economic business models around AMR. QureTech Bio´s CEO is a board member of BEAM Alliance.
ENABLE-2 is an antibacterial drug discovery platform with focus on the early stages of antibiotic discovery and development. ENABLE-2 supports the development of direct acting systemic antibacterial compounds to ensure a sustainable flow of new antibacterial drug candidates into the development pipeline. ENABLE-2 is supported by the Swedish Research Council, the National Research Programme on Antibiotic Resistance and Vinnova.
SwedenBIO is the national trade organization for life sciences in Sweden. The member companies develop biotechnology, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices or are experts in business development, IP and law, among others. SwedenBIO also bring together financiers, incubators, science parks, regional investment promoters and many more. QureTech Bio´s CEO is the chairwoman of SwedenBIO’s expert network of Pandemic Preparedness.