A biotechnology company working to enable a new generation of mitochondrial engineering technologies and therapeutics based on mitochondrial export
MitoExport Limited is a bioengineering a first-in-class technology platform (MitoExporter) for programmable and selective export of wildtype or damaged mitochondria out of cells. MitoExporter has the potential to enable long-term maintenance and fine-tuning of engineered mtDNA and enhanced mitochondria, which would address crucial bottlenecks for mitochondrial editing and transplantation therapies targeting aging and diseases such as Alzheimers' and cardiovascular disease.We aim to develop novel, therapeutic modalities by combining MitoExporter with mitochondrial DNA editing and mitochondrial transplantation by exporting unengineered, untransplanted, and/or damaged mitochondria. MitoExporter has vast potential as a standalone technology platform and therapeutic, including for removing damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria. It has been proposed that damaged mitochondria would be the most important cellular component to export out of cells (with the biggest therapeutic benefits) by MitoExporter. A long-term aim of MitoExport Limited is to start clinical trials for age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Eventually, therapies would ideally slow or reverse healthy aging to extend healthy lifespan (the period of life with good health and absence of diseases).We are currently applying to grants to develop MitoExporter towards preclinical studies. Once specific experimental milestones given by investors have been reached, we will accept investments. MitoExport is also looking for new team members, collaborators, and advisors.You can fund the proof-of-concept experiments at https://www.gofundme.com/f/cellular-export-tech-development-for-rejuvenation-therapies so that we can reach the milestones given by investors. We have been offered over 2 Million Pounds depending on specific experimental results. Your support will be deeply appreciated.
Bjorn Fraser Olaisen pitching MitoExport at a Bio-Spark (Cambridge Gravity) event. Click here for more information.
Figure: MitoExporter can be customised to export mitochondria of interest, including those that were not engineered or transplanted, or those that accumulated damage. Thus, MitoExporter could enable therapeutics based on combining mitochondrial engineering (inside or outside cells) with export of non-engineered mitochondria. MitoExporter could also be adapted to remove damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria together with other cellular molecules and organelles, with a large potential to reverse cellular aging and extend our healthy lifespan.
The technology has been featured in major newspapers. Visit bjornolaisen.com for links and more information.
About our founderBjorn Fraser Olaisen pursued a Molecular Genetics BSc (King's College London) and a PhD in cellular technology development at the University of Cambridge to build the expertise required to innovate therapeutic modalities in MitoExport Limited. The laboratory skills acquired and the development of several technologies have been valuable for developing the MitoExporter work. Starting and completing advanced technologies (novel quantitative epigenomic profiling methods and profiling methods for aged cells), requires frequent and rational risk-taking, adaptable intuition (because many factors are unknown), and the ability to manage the considerable possibility that the projects may not work or take too long.The main technology project, supervised by Prof Sir Shankar Balasubramanian (co-inventor of the widely used Solexa-Illumina DNA Next Generation Sequencing technology, ℎ𝑡𝑡𝑝𝑠://𝑏𝑖𝑡.𝑙𝑦/43𝐴𝑅𝐼8𝐼), was meant to be done by a postdoc, and Fraser Olaisen was offered to change the project several times during roadblocks, but he persevered and completed it. He completed the main part of the project in 5 months, while a group of three people in another lab spent over a year to achieve an equivalent result. In addition, Fraser Olaisen worked with Altos Labs to develop a new technology and discover new therapeutic targets in cells.The MitoExport work is, and has been, independent from his research at the University of Cambridge and with Altos Labs.Fraser Olaisen also built experience relevant for the MitoExporter technology when identifying modulators of mitophagy (selective removal of mitochondria) in aging and Alzheimer's (Evandro Fang Lab at the University of Oslo, https://evandrofanglab.com/), investigating partial epigenetic reprogramming in cells (Sinclair Lab, Harvard Medical School), and exploring epigenetic mechanisms (during his Molecular Genetics degree at King's College London).Fraser Olaisen is mentored by Fifty Years VC, which organises the 5050 UK company building programme, backed by the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA). He was part of the first 5050 UK cohort. Other mentors include Prof Sir Tony Kouzarides and Rodrigo Santos from the Cambridge Gravity Bio-Spark company building programme.Fraser Olaisen has long been interested in extending the healthy part of our life, and reasoned that repairing or enhancing cellular components is a promising avenue. Mitochondria are his main interest in part because they are particularly important in cell biology, diseases (including Alzheimer's and cardiovascular diseases), and aging. The hypothesis (shared by many) is that suboptimal mitochondria would be the most important component to be tackled in diseases and aging. Thus, Fraser Olaisen has focused his career on exporting mitochondria to enhance mitochondrial engineering, transplantation, and the removal of damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria.
Contact details
Please reach out if you have any questions or want to get involved. We are currently looking for co-workers, collaborators, and funding opportunities.
Bjorn Fraser Olaisen: [email protected]
MitoExport Limited | England | Company reg 16929018Registered address: 9 Caxton House, Broad Street, Cambourne, Cambridge, CB23 6JN, UNITED KINGDOM
