Angios is an Austrian biotechnology company, specializing in cell-based research. With our unique approach to target vascular diseases we want to improve patient's lives all over the world.
Background
Blood vessels are the lifelines of our body, delivering required nutrients and removing waste materials. Diseases, impairing their functionality are amongst the biggest threats to global health. Research into vessel biology is currently hampered by the lack of relevant disease models that accurately represent the human environment. Animals, often used in vessel research, deliver only limited insight into vascular disease, require long and expensive observation periods and often do not recapitulate the human phenotype.
Approach
Angios strives to develop new treatments for vascular diseases by pursuing pre-identified targets. We have developed a patented technology that allows for the generation of blood vessels of human origin, utilizing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). This model accurately recapitulates pathologies, found in human patients and provides a unique platform to carry research into vascular diseses.
Gregor is an entrepreneur and consultant in the life sciences and biotech arena for 30 years. He worked with global management consultancies focusing on life sciences in Europe and the US. He is a founder of various start-ups in the health care space and is an advisor to venture capital and life sciences companies.
Gregor graduated with an M.A. and a PhD in Business administration and economics from the University of Economics in Vienna. His interests revolve around skiing in the mountains of Innsbruck whenever possible, politics, visual arts and the theatre.
Teodor studied biology at the Leopold Franzens University of Innsbruck before joining the group of Prof. Lukas A. Huber at the Medical University of Innsbruck, where he completed his PhD thesis in the field of molecular cell biology and oncology. He then moved to the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, working as a Postdoctoral fellow on rare vascular diseases, developing 3D vasculature models. As a CSO at Angios his focus is to oversee the progress and provide scientific support for ongoing and future projects.
Nicole comes to Angios from the Medical University of Innsbruck where she was a biomedical analyst at the Division Inner Medicine. Prior to that she studied Biotechnology at the Management Center Innsbruck and holds a Master of Science in Engineering. In her role as Lab Manager, Nicole is in charge of accounting, organizing the Laboratory and helping with experiments.
Florian studies medicine at the Medical University of Innsbruck and holds a master's degree in economics and law. He works as a project manager in the field of funding and research administration.
David is an Animal Care Specialist. Besides helping Angios with the in-vivo experiments, he studies Biology at the Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck. In his leisure time he is outside taking his dog for a run or somewhere in the garden.
Tanila holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Innsbruck and currently studies Business Administration at the Management Center Innsbruck.
Before coming to Austria, she graduated with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Pharmacological Innovations in Toulouse.
As Research Associate & Lab Manager at Angios, Tanila conducts research and takes care of the lab organization.
When she isn’t in the lab, you can be sure to find her outdoors spending time with her family.
Azarakhsh holds a PhD in Biochemistry and has a solid base in molecular and cellular biology. Her Ph.D. involved the development of a split luciferase biosensor for the detection of apoptosis that was funded by The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme at the National University of Ireland, Galway.
Since October 2021, Azarakhsh has taken up residence in Austria, where she has been working at the Medical University of Vienna as a senior scientist in the Department of Oral Biology. Most of her projects within the university focused on dental inflammation, using her deep background in molecular and cellular biology, together with hands-on skills, for the development of causal therapeutic approaches in regenerative dentistry. Since January 2024 she holds the new position as senior scientist within the DR project.
Beyond all the scientific life, Azarakhsh enjoys art, culture, reading and the Innsbruck city vibes.
Jakob studied Biology at the LFU and completed his Master’s in Biotechnology at MCI. During his Master’s thesis here at Angios, he grew into a valuable team member and later joined Angios full-time. He is now dedicated to the Blood Vessel Organoids project. In his free time, Jakob can often be found engaged in one of the many sports he enjoys.
Alexander Hoffmann is a scientist with a background in molecular medicine and sports science. He completed his Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine at the Medical University of Innsbruck, focusing on the host's iron metabolism and bacterial infections, particularly Salmonella. Through this research, Alexander has gained in-depth knowledge about iron supplementation, infection models, and innate immune function, with a special emphasis on macrophages.
In addition to his expertise in molecular medicine, Alexander also holds a Master's degree in Sports Science from the Leopold Franzens University of Innsbruck.
When not in the lab, Alexander can be found outdoors, enjoying the vast mountain playground around Innsbruck. Whether climbing, paragliding, or snowboarding, he fully embraces the opportunity to connect with nature.
Josef is currently the Director of the Life Sciences Institute at the University of British Columbia and was the founding Scientific Director of the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. He co-authored over 700 publications and is an inventor on several patents. Josef received numerous awards, including the Wittgenstein Prize of the Austrian Federal Government, the Descartes Prize for Research, the Ernst Jung Prize for Medical Excellence, the Innovator Award of the US Department of Defense, and the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art First Class.
Ulrich Granzer is a specialist in drug development, regulatory affairs, drug safety and GXP. He was instrumental in the program for the first fully human anti TNF antibody, now marketed as Humira. He is the founder of Granzer Regulatory Consulting and Services and has supported more than 200 European and 100 global registration projects.
Carl Hansen is the founding CEO of AbCellera Biologics. Before founding AbCellera, he was Professor at the University of British Columbia, where he has authored numerous publications and is an inventor of 65 US patent applications that are represented in 7 commercial products.
Christine Mummery is the head of the Department of Anatomy and Embryology at Leiden University Medical Center. She has pioneered studies on cardiomyocytes from human embryonic stem cells. She was the first to establish human induced pluripotent stem cells in Netherlands and is leading their use for cardiovascular disease modelling and safety pharmacology. In 2010 she co-founded NCardia.
Prof. Herbert Tilg, PhD
Professor of internal medicine, Medical University Innsbruck
Director of the Division of Endocrinology, Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University. He focuses on mechanisms of chronic inflammation cytokine and adipocytokine research, intestinal immunity, metabolic inflammation.
Reiner Wimmer, PhD
Scientist, Pharma Reasearch and Early Development, Roche Basel
Reiner pursued his post-doctoral studies in Josef Penninger’s laboratory, and it was during this time he invented the organoid technology. The ensuing publication in Nature, that laid down the foundations of Angios, has accumulated more than 250 citations within 2 years. Reiner is currently employed by Roche as a Senior Scientist.
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The people behind Angios
We are a multi-disciplinary team of scientists that is united by a common goal – to advance our science into therapies. Our team members have different expertise and scientific background, which fosters a highly collaborative work environment. As a new biotech start-up, our company culture is built on teamwork, communication, fun and a passion for science.
We are working together with the following partners.
