Dr. Christos Papadimitriou, CEO of Tessara Therapeutics, is revolutionizing drug development by growing miniature human brain tissues in test tubes.
This innovative approach aims to replace traditional animal testing for neurodegenerative diseases with more accurate, human-relevant models.
“We trick the cells into believing they are inside the human brain,” explains Papadimitriou, highlighting the unique microtissue technology. Developed at the Jumar incubator in Melbourne, a collaborative hub between CSL, Melbourne University, and WEHI, Tessara Therapeutics benefits from shared resources and investor access.
The Jumar incubator supports 24 biotech startups, bridging the gap between academic research and commercial applications. Papadimitriou envisions his technology, combined with an expanding database, becoming a global standard within 25 years.
He criticizes the limitations of animal testing, stating, “We’ve cured anything in mice from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases, but the research does not translate.” His goal is to accelerate drug development and improve the translation of research into effective treatments for patients worldwide.