SMi Systems appoints Dr Ankur Mutreja as Senior Advisor

Life science technology company SMi Systems, which seeks to revolutionise molecular science with its single-molecule imaging platform, has announced vaccine expert Dr Ankur Mutreja as its new Senior Advisor.

SMi’s multi-omic platform utilises super-resolution imaging and deep learning to quantify molecules and their intricate interactions. It offers highly scalable throughput and flexibility, allowing the detection of a broad range of molecule types within a single test, which should facilitate faster, better informed decisions to drive the future of therapeutic and diagnostic development.

Mutreja is currently Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Communications at PATH for South Asia, where his leadership ensures the organisation and its partners implement strategic programs with the highest health security impact. He also sits on the board of BactiVac, a catalytic bacterial vaccine network which funds bacterial vaccine R&D and academia–industry collaborations. He was previously Head of Global South Partnerships at CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations), where he was responsible for managing strategic partnerships in vaccine development, equity and access.

“Ankur has led strategic focus on vaccines, diagnostics and epidemic preparedness initiatives throughout his impressive career, and we are thrilled that he is advising us on the future applications of SMi’s technology in these areas of need,” said SMi Systems CEO Dr Andrew Thompson.

“Ankur’s experience will help to guide the application of SMi’s technology in vaccine development and routine population testing, both areas addressed by SMi’s early commercial products. His global view of pandemic preparedness and vaccine development will ensure the widest possible impact on human health, and his contacts will enable SMi’s technology to reach a wider customer base.”

Mutreja has extensive experience in industry and academia, including leading projects at the University of Cambridge, Novartis and MSD-Wellcome Hilleman Labs, and his published work on the spread of infectious disease has been widely cited. He holds honorary professorial positions at institutes in India and the UK and has advised the World Health Organization and the United Nations.

“I am continuously seeking technologies that can transform global health,” Mutreja said. “At SMi, the team has greatly simplified experimental workflows through automation, multiplexing and high-throughput capabilities that now enable direct observation of individual molecules within a sample.

“As SMi’s technology evolves, I see immense potential to accelerate vaccine development and scale up routine diagnostic testing for chronic diseases and for epidemic/pandemic preparedness. I’m thrilled to help guide SMi’s development towards initiatives with the greatest impact, recognising that both scientific innovation and commercial strategy are crucial for widespread technology deployment.”