Where the Internet Lives Mapping New Medicines
Jan 14, 2026
Chris Gibson, Co-founder and CEO of Recursion Pharmaceuticals, speaks about revolutionizing drug discovery by blending AI and massive wet-lab experiments. He illustrates how their approach is like creating a "Google Maps" for human biology, which could significantly improve the speed and accuracy of developing new medicines. Gibson also discusses the potential of mapping cancer treatments and the impact of automation on medical research jobs, revealing a future where algorithms guide treatment options before they reach patients.
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Mapping Biology As A Navigation Problem
- Recursion builds a system-level map of biology to find routes from disease back to health.
- This map-focused approach aims to predict which molecules will shift complex cellular states.
From PhD Defense To Startup
- Chris left an MD-PhD program and incorporated Recursion six days after defending his PhD.
- He co-founded the company in 2013 with an undergrad friend and Dr. Dean Lee.
Breadth Over Single-Target Bets
- Recursion chose a 'boil the ocean' strategy: build a broad map rather than chase single diseases or pathways.
- This ambitious breadth explains the lengthy timeline but increases potential impact across many conditions.