Vianautis
Raffaele Marroccella is a skilled project scientist with a strong background in biology and biomedical applications. Currently serving at Vianautis since November 2023, Raffaele previously held a project scientist position at Somaserve from September 2021 to November 2023. Prior experience includes a role as a research assistant at The University of Sheffield and laboratory biologist positions at Poliambulatorio Dalla Rosa Prati and LABORATORIO DI ANALISI LA FONTANA S.R.L. Raffaele's early career included work as a postal carrier at Poste Italiane. Educational qualifications include a Master's degree in Food and Health Education from Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna and a degree in Biology with a focus on biomedical applications from Università degli Studi di Parma.
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.