Lance Stewart, PhD MBA, CSOO
Institute for Protein Design, UW Medicine
University of Washington, Box 351655
Molecular Engineering and Sciences Building, 4th Floor
3946 W Stevens Way NE
Seattle, WA 98195-1655
Email: ljs5@uw.edu
Cell: 206-383-4187
Lance Stewart is the Chief Strategy and Operations Officer of the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Since 2013, Dr. Stewart has been a key member of the IPD leadership team, responsible for revenue generation activities as well as providing support for numerous collaborative research projects. He also manages the IPD’s Translational Investigator Research Program, including protein/peptide production technology transfer activities. He brings more than 26 years of experience in protein and drug discovery research, life sciences partnering and entrepreneurial start-up activities. Dr. Stewart co-founded several Seattle-area biotechnology companies, is an active angel investor, and has served on the board of directors for Tetra Discovery Partners (Grand Rapids, MI, acquired in 2020 by Shionogi). Dr. Stewart earned a PhD in virology and biochemistry at Cornell University, and later an executive MBA from the UW Foster School of Business. Dr. Stewart’s conflict-of-interest management plan is provided by UW.
Company Involvement | Updated February 2023
Lance Stewart’s conflict of interest management plan is provided by UW.
IPD-TA = Translational Advisor at the IPD supporting company formation
CF = Co-Founder of company
S = Stock shareholder or convertible note holder
A = Advisor to company
I = Co-Inventor on UW patents licensed to company
(In parentheses are the dates & focus of Lance Stewart’s involvement).
Current Companies
A-Alpha Bio, (A 2018-present, S) Developing a fundamentally new way of supporting safer drug discovery.
Archon Biosciences (IPD-TA 2019-Present, CF, S) De novo designed self-assembling protein – antibody nanomaterials for regenerative medicine and cancer.
Athira Pharma $ATHA, (A 2014-2020, S) Clinical stage development of regenerative therapeutics for neurodegenerative disease.
Colorado Biofactory, (A 2020-present, S). Transforming agricultural waste into regenerative biological solutions for turf and agriculture.
Cyrus Bio, (IPD-TA 2013-2014, S) Cyrus solves difficult protein engineering and structure prediction problems using powerful software tools.
Icosavax $ICVX, (IPD-TA 2015-2017, S, I) Clinical stage development of safe and effective designed protein nanoparticle vaccines for infectious diseases that address important unmet medical needs.
Lila Biologics (IPD-TA 2019-Present, CF, S) De novo designed antagonists targeting integrin family members for treatment of fibrotic diseases.
Magnolia Medical Technologies (2011-present, S). Developing innovative blood and bodily fluid collection devices that significantly improve the accuracy of critical laboratory tests.
Monod Bio, (IPD-TA 2021-2022, S, I) De novo designed protein biosensors for diagnostic applications.
Mopac Biologics (IPD-TA 2018-present, CF, S) De novo designed proteins for inflammatory bowel disease.
Neoleukin Therapeutics $NLTX, (IPD-TA 2018-2019, S, I) De novo designed proteins for immunoncology.
Pack Ventures (A 2021-present, S) A pre-seed and seed venture fund investing in bold founders from the University of Washington network and beyond.
Transcyton Bio (IPD-TA 2020-present, CF, S, I) De novo designed proteins as blood brain barrier transport vehicles.
Vilya Inc.(IPD-TA 2021-2022, A 2022-Present, CF, S, I) Computational design of structured membrane permeable drug molecules to target traditionally un-druggable targets.
Wayfinder Biosciences(A 2022-present, S) Designing RNA for next generation biomanufacturing and smart therapeutics.
Past Companies
Emerald BioStructures, (CF 1998-2013) Gene to X-ray crystal structure in support of drug discovery and development, a subsidiary of Medichem Life Sciences (2000-2002), a subsidiary of deDODE genetics (2002-2009), spun out of deCODE (CF 2009-2012), Beryllium (2012-2017), now a subsidiary of UCB Pharma which acquired the company in 2017.
Emerald BioSolutions, (CF 2005-2011) Liquid handling and reagent solutions for high-throughput structural proteomics, a subsidiary of deCODE genetics (2005-2009), protein crystallography reagents now sold by Rigaku, liquid handling hardware now sold by Protein Biosolutions.
ImmuneDesign, (A 2012-2013) A therapeutic vaccine product development company, acquired by Merck in 2019.
PvP Biologics, (IPD-TA 2014-2016, I) Designed enzyme therapeutic for celiac disease. Takeda acquired PvP in February 2020.
Tetra Discovery Partners / Therapeutics, (CF 2010-20, Board Member 2013-2020) Clinical stage development of therapeutics for cognitive impairment. Acquired by Shionogi in 2020.
Virvio, (IPD-TA 2016-2018): IPD spinout started to pursue clinical development of anti-flu minibinders with unique and potent properties for neutralizing strains of influenza virus. Ceased operations in 2018.