From PhD to Pioneer

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Ata Tuna Ciftlik CEO at Lunaphore.Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Ata, covering:

• Bringing the next generation ‘satellite for tumours’ sequencing tools for immuno oncology and cancer research to drug discovery, and eventually the mainstream.
• Why life science start-ups need data to survive and thrive. And key lessons of entrepreneurship, from theory to reality.
• The avalanche effect - from a 2.5k competition fundraise to $50m in a market on-track to become $10b.
• Unmissable leadership lessons from PhD-start up to global life science business.

Ata Tuna Ciftlik was born in Ankara, Turkey. He received a double-B.Sc in Mathematics and Electronics Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU) in 2006. He started interdisciplinary research at the interface of Microfluidics and Biology during his MSc studies in METU, where he received thesis of the year 2009 prize.

Next, he obtained interdisciplinary PhD in Biomedical Microfluidic Systems from Swiss Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and was awarded internationally known Dimitris N. Chorafas foundation prize in the category of cutting egde technology.After inventing its core technology during his PhD, he has co-founded Lunaphore in 2014.

Lunaphore so far received USD 60 million financing from private and public sources, lead multiple innovation projects in Switzerland and Europe, counts close to 100 people, appeared more than 100 times in national and international media channels, claimed 22 awards and has consistently been selected as one of the best start-ups in the country. Ata Tuna is married, has 2 children and enjoys biking, running and hiking.

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