The Intersection Of Tech and Biotech, Chris Gibson, Co-Founder & CEO, Recursion
Feb 14, 2024
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Chris Gibson, co-founder and CEO of Recursion, explores the intersection of technology and biotech, emphasizing adaptability and diverse partnerships. He shares insights on navigating the biotech landscape, capital markets, and the transformative potential of technology. Gibson's emphasis on building diverse teams and the impact of partnerships offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
The importance of adaptability and diverse partnerships in driving innovation in the biotech industry.
The transformative potential of technology in the biotech sector, leading to a reshuffling of bio-pharma companies and a significant impact on drug discovery and development processes.
Deep dives
Building Recursion and the Intersection of Technology and Biotech
Chris Gibson, co-founder and CEO of Recursion, shares the arc of his career and how he combined engineering and medicine to pursue his passion of uncovering the underlying pathways of biology. Despite not finishing medical school, Gibson believes he made the right choice in pursuing entrepreneurship with Recursion, understanding the higher probability of success and broader impact. He emphasizes the importance of taking risks, seeking advice, and surrounding oneself with diverse perspectives when entering the biotech industry. Gibson also discusses the challenges and rewards of being a founder, handling the ups and downs of running a company, and maintaining resilience and separation of personal value from project success.
The Intersection of Tech and Biotech
Gibson highlights the significant potential and transformation that technology tools bring to the biotech industry. He mentions the wake-up call provided by technological advancements like AlphaFold and GPT language models, which have spurred a shift in the industry's perception and acceptance of technology. Gibson predicts a reshuffling of bio-pharma companies, with new entrants and established players reinventing themselves in response to leveraging tech innovations. He believes that clinical development and regulatory sciences will be profoundly influenced by technology in the next two to three decades, leading to a transformative impact on drug discovery and development processes.
Overcoming Challenges and Finding Opportunities
Gibson encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their ideas in biotech, even without prior industry experience. He emphasizes that failure is a crucial part of the learning process and recommends seeking feedback, building a strong support network, and being open to different roles within a company. Gibson shares insights on how Recursion navigated challenges like market downturns, slow growth, and distributed team management. He highlights the importance of acting early and prioritizing discipline, thoughtful execution, and delivery during tough market conditions. Gibson also stresses the value of partnerships with companies that can be transformative influences and enable a collective acceleration of progress.
The Significance of People, Culture, and Environment
Reflecting on his journey, Gibson advises his younger self to prioritize the people, culture, and environment of an organization. He recognizes the tendency of technical founders to undervalue the importance of focusing on the human element and culture when building a company. Gibson shares lessons learned and the realization that success greatly hinges on spending time with people, managing and leading them effectively, and nurturing a strong culture. He emphasizes the impact of investing in people and cultivating a positive work environment in achieving long-term success.
Synopsis:
In this episode of the Biotech2050 podcast, Chris Gibson, the co-founder and CEO of Recursion, shares insights on the intersection of technology and biotech, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and diverse partnerships in driving innovation. Gibson's journey from pursuing an MD-PhD program with a focus on merging engineering and medicine to founding Recursion showcases his deep understanding of the evolving biotech landscape. His experience navigating the capital markets and proactive decision-making in response to market conditions offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs in the industry. The episode delves into the challenges and opportunities in the biotech sector, highlighting the transformative potential of technology and the significance of embracing entrepreneurship and risk-taking. Gibson's emphasis on building diverse teams and the impact of partnerships serves as a compelling reason for entrepreneurs and leaders in the biotech industry to listen to this episode, providing valuable insights and strategies for navigating the rapidly changing biotech landscape.
Biography:
Chris Gibson developed the technology and approach that seeded Recursion as part of his MD/PhD work in the lab of Co-Founder Dr. Dean Li (current President of Merck Research Labs) while at the University of Utah. After completing his Ph.D., Chris left medical school to build Recursion into the rapidly growing company it is today. Chris is a graduate of Rice University with degrees in bioengineering and management.
Chris serves on the Board of BioHive, the public-private partnership driving expansion of Utah's life-science ecosystem, the fastest growing in the nation. Chris is also active as an advisor and mentor, both formally and informally, of many young biotech founders. Chris enjoys cycling on both the road and the trails that cut through Utah's great wilderness, as well as spending time with family.
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