The Challenge of Industrializing Knowledge Gained through Science: An iGEM Entrepreneur's Journey in Japan
Interview conducted and written by Takashi Yamanashi
This is an interview with Taku Tsuzuki, CTO of Epistra Inc. and member of iGEM Osaka 2012 & 2013 (Leader). He is an entrepreneur who has started two companies in Japan based on his experience as an iGEM Team Leader.
How did your SynBio Journey Begin?
I have had an interest in synthetic biology since high school. After reading an iGEM alumni’s blog I started thinking about joining an iGEM team. Eventually, I joined the iGEM Osaka from Japan team while I was a university student. When I first joined the team, it was a bit difficult to keep up with the daily activities since I had not studied biology before. However, as time went on, I gradually acquired knowledge and eventually became the team leader of the iGEM Osaka 2013.
How was your experience in iGEM 2013?
As a team leader, I had to manage all the things necessary for our iGEM team, such as funding, research planning, securing places, recruiting the team, and presenting results. I remember that they were challenging activities.
The iGEM Project
The iGEM Osaka 2013 project aimed to create a system which could replicate cellular differentiation by preparing two strains that lacked the synthesis function of essential amino acids A and B, and introducing an enzyme that could synthesize A in one strain and B in the other strain using a toggle switch. However, we couldn't achieve good results by the time of the Jamboree because the goals were too ambitious. This experience made me realize the importance of setting incremental and achievable goals, as well as establishing an appropriate timeline to achieve them. Although I faced some setbacks, this experience has become an invaluable asset in my current work.
What Did you Do after iGEM?
After iGEM, I joined Professor Koichi Takahashi's team at RIKEN Japan and started my research. There, I developed a microscope that uses deep learning to automate drug discovery screening. After that, I started a drone-related startup with my friends when I was a graduate student. At that company, we also raised funds and learned many things. However, I ended up returning to graduate school due to a number of reasons.
Once gradschool was over, based on my reflections on my first entrepreneurial experience, I decided to take on the challenge of starting a startup again in my area of specialty, which is the fusion of machine learning and life science.
And I participated in the launch of the startup (Epistra Inc.), where I am still active as a director.
What does Epistra do?
Epistra Inc. is a company that accelerates the industrialization of the biotechnology industry by utilizing AI. As the CTO of the company, I am responsible for product development. As part of the company's activities, we collaborated with Spiber Inc., one of Japan's leading Synbio startups, to optimize the cultivation conditions of proteins. Over the course of several years, we were able to improve the yield by 26.5%, compared to the existing methods previously studied.
In addition, through joint research with a research institute, we have developed a fully automated system that combines a dual-arm robot and AI to optimize culture conditions that increase the efficiency of inducing differentiation from iPS cells to RPE cells. The results were published in the scientific journal "eLife".
Currently, we are collaborating with several large companies, including equipment manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies like Shimadzu Corporation, to develop solutions that utilize AI for optimizing cell-based production processes. Cell-based production involves a variety of processes, including design, breeding, determination of culture conditions, and scale-up for industrialization, all of which present numerous exciting and rewarding technical challenges. By combining expertise in biology and information science, our team aims to tackle these technical issues and enhance the production process.
What is your motivation for these activities?
My motivation was to create a cycle of industrializing scientific knowledge, generating profits, and then reinvesting those profits into research and development. I have always had a passion for science and initially thought that I would pursue a career as a researcher in academia. However, after witnessing the limited and shrinking number of positions available even for talented individuals in Japanese academia, I realized that I was dedicating a substantial amount of time and effort to a pursuit with slim chances of success. As a result, I began exploring new paths outside of the existing framework. Initially, I believed that the root cause of the challenges faced by academia was simply a lack of investment in scientific research, particularly basic research. I also felt that the benefits of investing in science were not always clear on a case-by-case basis, making it difficult to justify such investments. Therefore, I decided to launch a business based on the knowledge and technology I acquired at university, with the aim of making a profit.
Leveraging the skills and insights gained during my studies,I launched my first startup. Although the initial experience was not necessarily smooth, I learned a lot from it. Currently, I am working on my second startup, and we are making significant progress.
Finally, I would like to offer some advice to current iGEM participants:
Even if you do not achieve the results you hope for, the experience you gain through iGEM will be invaluable. The skills and connections you develop during the competition can be an excellent foundation for your future career. Enjoy the process and learn as much as possible, while also taking care of your physical and mental health.
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