Behind the Breakthroughs Mike Previte: Predicting Biology with Spatiotemporal Multiomics
Jul 9, 2025
In this enlightening conversation, Mike Previte, CTO and co-founder of Element Biosciences, sheds light on his journey from Boston to groundbreaking advancements in biomedical technology. He discusses the limitations of current sequencing tools in capturing the dynamics of living cells and advocates for a 5D multiomics approach. Previte emphasizes the importance of integrating spatial and temporal dimensions in precision medicine. He also critiques traditional drug testing methods and highlights the potential of human-based models like organoids for safer and more effective therapies.
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From Neighborhood Kid to MIT Insider
- Mike Previte grew up in a working-class neighborhood full of Italian, Irish, and Jewish immigrants.
- At MIT, he was often mistaken for janitorial or construction staff, highlighting the contrast between his background and the academic environment.
Personal Loss Inspired Science Path
- Previte's friend Jay McGillis was a promising athlete who died from lymphoma while he interned working on drug-resistant cell lines.
- These personal losses motivated Previte to pursue medicine and ultimately instrument-building for cancer treatment.
Importance of Temporal Dynamics
- Biology's dynamic molecular interactions occur in milliseconds to minutes, far faster than traditional 24-48 hour endpoint assays capture.
- Capturing temporal dynamics is crucial to understand drug effects and pathways accurately for precision medicine.
