iPSC Cell Therapies

Biography

Andreas Scheel, as the EVP Head of Cell Therapy, leads the focus area “iPSC-based Cell Therapies” at Evotec. He also serves as the site head of the Cologne facility and is responsible for the cell therapy core teams located in Göttingen and Cologne.

In his role, Andreas is primarily responsible for the strategic development of this focus area together with a leadership team and for the establishment of strategic partnerships. He ensures the teams have the required expertise and fosters a cohesive identity across different sites. Andreas actively engages in internal networking and garners management support to promote transparency as this field continues to grow within the company. Additionally, he provides vital support to specific projects.

Andreas and his team's work holds immense importance, as they develop novel therapies to address urgent patient needs, striving to cure (rather than just treat) specific diseases with the unique advantages of iPSC-based cell therapy. At Evotec, Andreas values the company's commitment to investing in promising areas, granting senior leaders like himself the autonomy to define strategies. The dynamic and diverse environment at Evotec, with its vast expertise and multicultural teams, allows Andreas to excel in developing innovative platforms that have the potential to revolutionize medical treatments. His dedication and leadership position him as an invaluable asset in Evotec's pursuit of groundbreaking therapies.

Interest and Experience

Apart from his professional achievements, Andreas finds joy and fulfillment in his family and sports. He thrives in fast-paced environments and embraces challenging situations, making critical decisions with urgency, which allows him to tap into his creativity and excel in his work at Evotec.

Biography

Matthias Austen, the Senior Vice President of Cell Therapy at Evotec, leads the iPSC Cell Therapy department at the Goettingen site. In 2015, he spearheaded Evotec's pioneering iPSC-based cell therapy program for diabetes and has since expanded the portfolio to encompass diverse cell types and product candidates, such as immune-oncology, heart repair, and anti-inflammatory strategies.

Matthias focuses on developing GMP-compatible and scalable manufacturing processes from iPSCs, alongside implementing GMP-compatible gene editing strategies to enhance functionality and confer "immune-invisibility" to their off-the-shelf products.

His expertise extends to supporting and supervising diabetes programs in their journey to early clinical trials, collaborating with expert teams on upscaling, process optimization, and cryopreservation. Additionally, Matthias plays advisory roles in immune-oncology and cardiac cell therapy initiatives, as well as Evotec's efforts in developing immune-invisible iPSC lines and cell products.

Within the Cell Therapy team, Matthias and his colleagues strive to develop novel therapies for patients in need of urgent treatment options, leveraging the unique advantages iPSC-based cell therapy offers compared to other modalities.

Working at Evotec brings him a rewarding blend of a large, stable organization with cutting-edge technologies and a culture of exciting scientific advancements and biotech-like flexibility. Matthias enjoys collaborating with a highly competent, international team of experts, making every day an engaging and fulfilling experience for him and his colleagues. Customers working with Evotec on iPSC-based allogenic cell therapy benefit from access to a seasoned team proficient in the entire spectrum of process development and GMP manufacturing. This includes gene editing for functional enhancement, targeting, and immune invisibility, complemented by deep disease expertise across various fields like oncology, metabolic, and inflammatory diseases. The collaboration ensures the  development, validation, and manufacturing of highly relevant cell-based treatments, offering new hope and transformative solutions to patients in need.

Interest and Experience

Privately, Matthias finds joy in his family and indulges in various interests, including gardening, sports, arts, music, reading, sustainability, and environmental protection. In terms of creativity, he thrives in moments of contemplation, be it on a train, in the garden, at conferences, or in his office. Equally, he enjoys scientific discussions and collaboratively devising solutions with his team, fostering a vibrant environment for innovation and advancement

Biography

Simone Strauch, a distinguished Senior Scientist in Cell Therapy at Evotec, has a remarkable background in pioneering research. With over 5 years of experience at Amgen's HTS center, she honed her expertise in automated cell culture systems and cell-based assays for high-throughput screening. At Amgen, Simone achieved a significant milestone by establishing a fully automated 2D protocol for maintaining and expanding iPSCs, revolutionizing iPSC-based screening and assay development.

Since joining Evotec-Göttingen in 2015, she has assumed responsibility for iPSC production in both 2D and 3D formats, expertly optimizing protocols for differentiation into beta cells, and successfully upscaling production and differentiation processes in bioreactors. Her invaluable contributions extend to the process transfer team, skillfully translating R&D protocols into GMP-ready standards to ensure a seamless transition to clinical applications. As a Senior Research Scientist at Evotec, Simone's ingenuity is central to automating and upscaling iPSC-based procedures, working diligently to find innovative solutions for Cell Therapy projects. Her passion lies in helping patients with serious diseases by providing cuttingedge therapies that were once beyond reach.

At Evotec, she embraces the daily challenges and thrives in a creative and motivated team, dedicated to advancing the latest technologies and research areas in pursuit of groundbreaking medical solutions. Simona holds deep appreciation for the remarkable individuals within her team who dedicate their entire days to the pursuit of scientific excellence. Their relentless efforts in implementing novel ideas and conceiving invaluable suggestions for further enhancements have undoubtedly been instrumental in shaping the success of her endeavors. With heartfelt gratitude, she acknowledges the privilege of working with such a remarkable and dynamic group of people, whose passion for their craft continually inspires and drives her pursuit of scientific innovation.

Interest and Experience

Simone's dedication extends beyond her professional achievements at Evotec. With a passion for sports and a love for reading unrelated to science, she finds balance in her private life to counter the top-heavy workload. As a highly motivated and creative individual, Simone thrives in situations where she can disconnect from interruptions. 

During swimming or running, she experiences moments of clarity, allowing her to focus and generate innovative ideas to address challenges in her work. Her ability to find inspiration outside the laboratory contributes to her success as a Senior Research Scientist in the Cell Therapy Department, bringing fresh perspectives to the forefront of groundbreaking research.