ABOUT QURETECH BIO
QureTech Bio’s vision is to develop first-line drugs to combat infectious diseases and the occurrence of antibiotic resistance.
QureTech Bio was founded in 2010 to commercialize 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’s development programs are based on research mainly funded by academic research grants. The company has also received soft funding from Umeå Biotech Incubator and the European Union Horizon 2020 program SME Instrument Phase 1.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
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 current role as business coach at Umeå Biotech Incubator, she uses her broad experience and network to find expertise and funding to support growth of early startups within pharmaceuticals, medicaltechnology and diagnostics.
Fredrik Almqvist
Research director
FREDRIK ALMQVIST | RESEARCH DIRECTOR
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
Chairman
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. He is also one of the founders of the Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS) within the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine and Umeå Center for Microbial Research (UCMR). Recently the research group has initiated a project to investigate and understand the virulence properties of Chlamydia spp. This project aims to develop novel strategies for the treatment of Chlamydial infections. This research displays great potential for the development of new antibacterial agents, and will aid in QureTech Bio’s understanding of key processes occurring during bacterial infection.
Jörgen Johansson
Co-founder
JÖRGEN JOHANSSON | CO-FOUNDER
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.
Annica Rönnbäck
COO
ANNICA RÖNNBÄCK | COO
Annica Rönnbäck has since January 2019 held the position of Project Coordinator at QureTech Bio and Research Coordinator at the Department of Chemistry of Umeå University. She 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).
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sven Bergström
Chairman of the board
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. He is also one of the founders of the Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS) within the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine and Umeå Center for Microbial Research (UCMR). Recently the research group has initiated a project to investigate and understand the virulence properties of Chlamydia spp. This project aims to develop novel strategies for the treatment of Chlamydial infections. This research displays great potential for the development of new antibacterial agents, and will aid in QureTech Bio’s understanding of key processes occurring during bacterial infection.
Christina Stallings
Vice chairman
CHRISTINA STALLINGS | VICE CHAIRMAN
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.
Jörgen Johansson
Deputy board member
JÖRGEN JOHANSSON | DEPUTY BOARD MEMBER
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.
Scott Hultgren
Deputy board member/CSO
SCOTT HULTGREN | CSO/DEPUTY 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 and the National Academy of Inventors in 2020.
BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD
Karin Meyer
Center for Translational Research
KARIN MEYER |CEO CENTER FOR TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
During the past 25 years Karin Meyer have had several senior positions, in the pharmaceutical/life science area. Following PhD in pharmacology from Uppsala University and a post-doc at UCLA, Karin moved into pre-clinical and clinical development in AstraZeneca and Quintiles. Karin has experience from business development and investment management from Uppsala University Holding company. Karin has been CEO for Quintiles Scandinavia AB, PCG Services & PCG Solutions AB, the Swedish Pharmaceutical Society and is currently CEO for Center for Translational Research AB. In addition to operational positions, Karin is an experienced board member and board chairman in several Swedish and Norwegian companies – both public and private companies as well as government owned companies.
Lars Gunneflo
Life Science Consultant
LARS GUNNEFLO | LIFE SCIENCE CONSULTANT
Lars Gunneflo has 30 years of experience as CEO of companies in the Life Science area and the pharmacy industry. He has successfully developed market position and sales in a variety of industries such as medical technology, biotechnology, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and pharmacies. Since 2005 Lars has worked through his consulting company Gunneflo Life Science AB and has been managing a number of startup companies as CEO. In parallel with these assignments, he has worked as a strategic advisor in various parts of Life Science, and with his broad competence has also contributed to the change in the Swedish pharmacy market.
SCIENTIFIC STAFF
Mari Bonde
Senior Scientist, Molecular biology
MARI BONDE | PHD
Mari Bonde is currently working as a Senior Scientist, Molecular Biology at QureTech Bio. During her time as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Fredrik Almqvists lab and her time at QureTech Bio she has worked with in vitro Gram-positive cocci, more specifically methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis.
Souvik Sarkar
Senior Scientist, Chemisty
SOUVIK SARKAR | SENIOR SCIENTIST, CHEMISTRY
Souvik Sarkar is currently working as a Senior Scientist, Chemistry at QureTech Bio. Souvik was a Postdoctoral Researcher in Fredrik Almqvists lab prior to joining QureTech Bio.
Hasan Tükenmez
Senior Scientist, Molecular biology
HASAN TUKENMEZ | SENIOR SCIENTIST, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Hasan Tükenmez is currently working as a Senior Scientist, Molecular biology at QureTech Bio. Hasan was a Postdoctoral Researcher in Jörgen Johanssons and Fredrik Almqvists labs prior to joining QureTech Bio.
AFFILIATED SCIENTIST
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
The Johansson lab study stress regulatory mechanisms and RNA-mediated regulation in the bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.
Scott Hultgren
Professor
SCOTT HULTGREN | Professor
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
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.