Pioneering biotechnology start-up Nuritas is celebrating some celebrity investment and significant expansion plans as an already fine 2016 just got a whole lot better.
Nuritas’s eye-catching growth since its 2014 creation by mathematician and computational biologist Dr Nora Khaldi hit new heights in 2016.
Last May, it was revealed that Nuritas had received €2m in funding from investors, including Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff.
In October, Nuritas was awarded €3m in EU Horizon 2020 funding to commercialise a peptide that could potentially offer a new weapon in the fight against Type 2 diabetes.
And now, just as 2016 comes to a close, major expansion plans are afoot.
Khaldi has revealed that the company will triple its workforce in Ireland to over 60 in 2017 as part of a major expansion of its Irish operations. Adding some stardust to proceedings, U2’s Bono and The Edge have come aboard as investors in the company.
Nuritas said the additions to its workforce in Ireland will include roles across R&D, business development and other key support functions to drive global growth across many major health areas. It will maintain its Irish base, but has eyes on increasing its US footprint, with its San Francisco office not long open.
“We aim high and think outside the box at Nuritas which is something that Bono and The Edge have done throughout their careers,” said Khaldi, who was a recent speaker at Inspirefest.
“We are delighted to have them join the Nuritas family and embrace our mission of improving the health of billions of people around the world.”
Khaldi’s biotech company uses artificial intelligence, deep learning and DNA analysis to predict and provide access to the most health-benefiting components hidden within food – called peptides – which can manage and improve human health.
The company claims its revolutionary peptide, which is scientifically validated and patent-filed, is seen as a major breakthrough in the battle to prevent Type 2 diabetes.
“When we first started talking with Nuritas, I was blown away with how their ideas could be used to significantly improve the health of billions of people globally,” said The Edge.
“Using cutting-edge technology and really smart approaches to identify disease-beating peptides in food is something that has never been done before.
“To see this team unlock what nature has already created for the betterment of mankind, it’s just incredible. We want to bring forward and support innovative, world-changing ideas so this is a perfect fit.”
Looking for jobs in tech or science? Check out our Employer Profiles for information on companies hiring right now and sign up for our Career Republic e-zine for a weekly digest of sci-tech careers news and advice.
