Vianautis
Matthew Hockley is a Senior Scientist at Vianautis since October 2023, previously serving as a Project Scientist in the same organization and demonstrating expertise in formulation. Hockley is also an advisor for the Early Career Researcher Organ-on-a-chip Technologies Network, focusing on social media, training, and public engagement. Prior contributions include a Project Scientist role at Somaserve and a Postdoctoral Researcher position at the University of Kent, where research centered on optimizing healthcare micro-factories for responsive therapeutic delivery. Additional experiences include consulting at Cardiff University and work experiences at various institutions, including the University of Southampton and Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Hockley holds a PhD in Engineering Mathematics (Nanomedicine) from the University of Bristol and a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science from the University of Lincoln.
Vianautis
ViaNautis, formerly known as SomaServe, was founded in 2018 as a spin-off from UCL under the leadership of CEO and serial entrepreneur, Dr Francesca Crawford. The company’s core mission is to exploit the unique capabilities of the revolutionary polyNaut® technology. PolyNaut® is a versatile nano-engineered polymer technology designed for targeted intracellular delivery. This innovative technology enables polymer nanoparticles to deliver a wide range of payloads from small molecules to genetic materials creating ‘a bionic nanoparticle.’ The highly adaptable polymer structure of polyNaut® can be formulated to encapsulate a wide array of genetic cargoes, with sizes exceeding current standards for viral and non-viral delivery. Notably, it enhances the therapeutic efficacy of encapsulated molecules through direct delivery to the cell cytoplasm, facilitated by GOTO® technology for intracellular shuttling. PolyNaut® is set apart from conventional non-viral delivery technologies through its remarkable ability to target specific cells and penetrate biological barriers, including the challenging blood-brain barrier. PolyNaut® nanoparticles, when functionalised for CNS delivery through transcytosis, exhibit exceptional brain uptake. Deploying its state-of-the-art polyNaut® platform, ViaNautis is at the forefront of pioneering new therapies for CNS diseases and cystic fibrosis. The company is actively building an internal pipeline and collaborating with leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies to unlock the potential of promising genetic molecules as well as new therapeutic platforms.