Beijing-based biotechnology company JuShu Biotech announced the completion of a funding round with over 60 million yuan ($9.4 million) in angel investment. The funds will be used to accelerate the construction of the world's first engineered cell genotype-phenotype association database, product development, the establishment of pilot and mid-scale production lines, and process validation.

Founded in 2022, JuShu Biotech is a data-driven engineering biology company. They leverage structured production of large-scale core data in cell engineering, high-throughput identification and capture, deep learning, and advanced carbon source technology. Their focus is on establishing an integrated and standardized reusable thematic database that connects the data-site-strain to large-scale production, aiming to create the next generation of biomanufacturing industry platform in China.

The team at JuShu Biotech comprises top scientists and industry professionals from fields such as high-throughput and automated breeding, big data analysis and machine learning, and engineering cell preservation.

The company combines CRISPR high-throughput genotype construction and droplet microfluidic high-throughput characterization testing technologies to conduct whole-genome genotype-phenotype association analysis in engineered cells. They aim to unearth unknown correlated genes and their loci beyond the reach of traditional molecular biology methods and capture an industrial phenotype-associated gene dataset to establish a standardized and integrated reusable thematic database, breaking down data silos.

Additionally, they plan to establish a data-mechanism hybrid-driven engineering cell intelligent design platform using techniques such as whole-genome metabolic network modeling and deep learning. This approach aims to overcome limitations of existing rational design knowledge and achieve customized design and construction of engineered cells.

JuShu Biotech is focusing on the development of an engineering mammalian cell construction process that integrates high-throughput genome CRISPR editing, high-throughput phenotyping, process screening, and multi-omics data modeling. Through in-depth development of mammalian cell lines at the whole-genome level, they aim to obtain next-generation CHO cell lines with independent intellectual property rights to break through the bottleneck of cell strains in China.

To further enhance the efficiency of engineering cell development, JuShu Biotech plans to build an automated "large-scale facility" based on their high-throughput "small-scale facility" platform. This will enable the rapid iteration and optimization of chassis cells, accelerating the application of synthetic biology in areas such as biopharmaceuticals, bio-based chemicals/materials, biotechnology agriculture, and future food. Currently, JuShu Biotech has established technology research and development and industrial partnerships with multiple listed companies and research institutions.

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