Spun out of research from Harvard University, Q-State Biosciences Inc. is a drug discovery company based on proprietary stem cell and optogenetic technologies. The company is organized around development of precision diagnostics and treatments for disorders involving the nervous and cardiac systems. With expertise in patient-derived stem cells and disease modeling, functional drug screening in neurons and cardiac cells, cardio- and neuro-toxicity testing, and patient satisfaction in clinical trials. Q-State Biosciences has developed an all-optical electrophysiology platform for controlling and recording activity in electrically active cells: primary and human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and neurons. The platform combines proprietary ultrasensitive optogenetic actuators, genetically encoded voltage indicators, stem cell technology and advanced optical imaging. Q-State Biosciences uses custom instrumentation and software to probe cellular physiology with sub-micron spatial resolution and sub-millisecond temporal resolution. Q-State technology probes dynamic cellular physiology with far higher throughput and information content than are achieved with manual patch clamp, multi electrode arrays, or calcium- or voltage-sensitive dyes. In Novermber 2018, it was announced that the firm will ally with Minneapolis-based Pairnomix, LLC (Pairnomix) to create precision medicine company focused on rare and devastating central nervous system (CNS) diseases.
