IMU Biosciences, a life science startup using AI to map the human immune system, has raised £11.5m in Series A funding.
Founded in 2021, IMU Biosciences is building an ‘atlas’ for the immune system, with the goal of supporting diagnostics and drug development.
The company’s CytAtlas platform combines systems-level immunophenotyping – a process to identify and categorise cells – with an AI platform to give clinicians and pharmaceutical developers a clearer understanding of how the immune system can be used to combat disease.
The startup’s tech is based on research from the laboratory of Kings College London professor Adrian Hayday.
IMU Bioscience said the Covid-19 pandemic “crystalised” the team’s research as it sought to understand the human immune response to the virus.
“With our technology, we’re building the world’s largest immune data assets across health and disease, which allows us to perform analyses with a level of depth and granularity that was previously unthinkable,” said Dr Adam Laing, co-founder and CEO of IMU Biosciences.
“This systems-level approach to understanding immune function enables us to look at the bigger picture rather than just focusing on individual disease-associated parameters.”
The new funding will go towards advancing the CytAtlas platform, fostering new strategic partnerships and expanding the company’s presence in Massachusetts, US.
The funding round was led by investor Molten Ventures and included LifeX Ventures.
“IMU’s technology has the potential to transform our understanding of the immune system,” said Molten Ventures principal Dr Inga Deakin.
“Its advanced AI platform – combined with deep immune data profiling – enables unique insights into the immune system, which plays a critical role in virtually every disease.”