CardiaTec is a TechBio company employing computational methods to decode the biology behind cardiovascular disease.
The University of Cambridge spinout leverages human multiomics data to better navigate complex disease biology to identify novel and differentiated therapeutics.
CardiaTec is building the first and largest proprietary human heart tissue multiomics dataset. The company has a large and growing network of over 65 hospitals across the US and the UK, screening patients on a 24/7 basis to support the bespoke collection of human cardiac tissues.
“CardiaTec is redefining cardiovascular drug discovery by taking a radically different approach. Powered by our network of more than 65 hospitals across the US and the UK, we are building the largest proprietary human heart tissue multiomics dataset.”
Using AI to find new cardiovascular treatments
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, resulting in 17.9 million deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. At the top of the list is ischemic heart disease (coronary heart disease), responsible for 13% of the world’s total deaths.
In 2021, CardiaTec spun out of the Han Lab at the University of Cambridge, founded by CEO Raphael Peralta, COO Thelma Zablocki, and CTO Professor Namshik Han. Peralta and Zablocki are graduates of the University of Cambridge MPhil in Bioscience Enterprise programme. Han is a world-leading academic in AI applications for target and drug discovery, holding positions at the University of Cambridge at the Milner Therapeutics Institute and the Cambridge Centre for AI in Medicine. Together, they have brought together industry experts from leading organisations including Bristol Myers Squibb, Cleveland Clinic, and Recursion Pharmaceuticals.
“By integrating insights across genetics, gene expression, epigenetics, and proteomics, we aim to construct a comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms, paving the way for first-in-class therapeutics.”
Thelma Zablocki
CardiaTec Founders - Namshik Han (CTO), Raphael Peralta (CEO) and Thelma Zablocki (COO)
In 2022, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures joined a £1.4 million pre-seed investment in CardiaTec, led by Laidlaw Scholars Ventures and APEX Ventures, with additional support from Crista Galli Ventures and o2h ventures. The spinout has also earned notable accolades, such as the One to Watch award at the Cambridge Independent Science & Technology Awards in 2023.
Building on this momentum, CardiaTec successfully raised $6.5 million in a seed round of funding in 2024. The seed round was led by Montage Ventures, with participation from Continuum Health Ventures, Laidlaw Ventures, Apex Ventures, and several angel investors.
The next step for CardiaTec is to start identifying and testing drug candidates. With strong financial backing and a dedicated team, CardiaTec is well-positioned to bolster its efforts in developing innovative cardiovascular treatments, leveraging AI to improve patient outcomes.
Image Credits: Shutterstock, CardiaTec and Getty Images
