August 14, 2019 Comments (0) Views: 1986 Biotech, Biotech Briefing, Blog

Biotech Briefing: San Diego Tops List of Best Work-Life Balance

Plus: Inscripta and Poseida Therapeutics in Top 10 List of Gene-Editing Companies

Reports + Research

San Diego Tops List of Best Work-Life Balance

San Diego ranked highest for best work-life balance in a survey by Kisi. The survey compared data on work intensity, institutional support, legislation, and livability. According to the survey, for city livability, San Diego scored 87.3% for safety and 94.3% for happiness. Biospace reports that San Diego “has seen a 20% growth of its life sciences community over the past five years and has become a lynchpin of the California and U.S. life sciences industry.”

Inscripta and Poseida Therapeutics in Top 10 List of Gene-Editing Companies

Inscripta and Poseida Therapeutics were two of five private biotechs listed on GEN’s Top 10 list of gene-editing companies. Private biotechs were ranked by total capital raised. Inscripta is a tools company in the space, providing a full suite of gene editing tools (software, instruments, and reagents). Poseida Therapeutics has proprietary gene delivery and editing technologies that, according to GEN, “could result in single-treatment cures for numerous oncologic indications and orphan genetic diseases, with an initial focus on CAR-T therapies.”

Nutritional Algae to be Tested at UC San Diego for Impact on Gut Health

As a follow-up to previous research, UC San Diego is looking for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to volunteer for an upcoming study on an algae-based nutritional protein supplement. Volunteers will receive a either a placebo or a powdered form of the algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, the goal of the study is to test “if the algae improve the function of gut microbes, possibly alleviating symptoms (of IBD).” The study will be performed by the California Center for Algae Biotechnology, but the date has not yet been determined.