Microsoft Partners with Oxford Biomedica, Synthace, and Princeton University to Apply Coding Technologies in Biotechnology

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that tech giant Microsoft recently launched a collaborative project with biotechnology company Oxford Biomedica, laboratory software development firm Synthace, and Princeton University. The initiative aims to apply Microsoft’s coding technologies to the biotechnology sector, advancing programmable biology to facilitate the development of new drugs and innovative technologies.

Andrew Phillips, head of Microsoft’s biological computing division, stated, “Programming biology has the potential to solve some of the world’s most intractable medical problems and lay the foundation for the sustainable development of future biotechnology.” It is understood that Microsoft, headquartered in Washington State, USA, has been dedicated in recent years to researching cloud technology and artificial intelligence products to help healthcare professionals streamline data entry processes, manage patient triage and classification, and develop cancer therapies.

Oxford Biomedica is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, UK. As a pioneer in gene and cell therapies, it is a leader in the research of lentiviral vectors and cell therapies. Microsoft is collaborating with the company to develop gene therapies aimed at repairing genes in patients. Microsoft will provide Oxford Biomedica with Azure cloud technology and machine learning software to help the company isolate damaged and malformed genetic cells from healthy gene sequences. Meanwhile, Oxford Biomedica also aims to leverage Microsoft’s machine learning and cloud technologies to reduce product costs.

Synthace, founded in 2011, is a laboratory software development company dedicated to creating new technologies and software for laboratory personnel. It aims to enhance laboratory efficiency by optimizing laboratory equipment and simplifying operational workflows. Synthace will collaborate with Microsoft to develop software that enables researchers to conduct reproducible experiments on automated laboratory equipment and to expand data generation capabilities in computer-aided biology.

Princeton University is Microsoft’s sole academic partner. Microsoft will collaborate with Princeton University on research in microbiology and computer simulation. Microsoft will provide Princeton with advanced cloud technologies and sophisticated machine learning capabilities to help the university investigate the mechanisms underlying biofilm formation. Bacterial communities associated with biofilm surfaces are a primary cause of microbial infections, which can be as lethal as cancer, and they are also a major driver of antibiotic resistance.

Microsoft’s cloud technology will be used for biological modeling and experiments deployed at Princeton University. This initiative integrates programming languages and compilers to execute biological protocols using laboratory automation technologies. Princeton University uploads experimental data to the cloud, where Microsoft employs advanced machine learning and data analytics methods to conduct large-scale analyses and generate biological insights.

It is understood that in recent years, major technology companies have sought to apply their technological expertise to the field of biotechnology. Companies such as Apple, Google, and IBM are attempting to develop biotechnological capabilities through independent research and development or collaborations with other firms.

(Compiled by Jiao Yanli)