Syncell Secures $15 Million in Series A Funding to Accelerate Global Commercialization of Microscoop Platform for Spatial Proteomics Analysis

Syncell, a life science technology company specializing in subcellular protein purification and spatial proteomics analysis, has secured $15 million in Series A funding. This investment, led by Taiwania Capital and supported by new and existing investors, brings the company’s total funding to $30 million. The funds will be utilized to accelerate the global commercialization and commercial support for Syncell’s groundbreaking Microscoop platform.

Founded in 2020 by CEO Jung-Chi Liao, Syncell has rapidly developed its Microscoop technology, which enables high-precision, unbiased, spatial proteomic discovery in subcellular tissues or cells. This technology allows researchers to accurately discover new protein components from targeted regions of interest, facilitating the identification of cell subtypes and states, novel protein drug targets at disease-associated locations, biomarkers for disease, and mechanisms of biological pathways.

The Microscoop platform is designed to address the challenges faced by biological researchers in achieving microscopy-guided spatial protein purification and proteomic discovery at visually recognizable regions of interest. Syncell has commercialized its Microscoop technology, helping researchers achieve unbiased discovery in spatial proteomics at the disease site.

The company expects to place Microscoop Mint instruments in the U.S., Europe, and Asia by the end of the year as it builds its commercial infrastructure to support customers worldwide. This expansion is part of Syncell’s strategy to meet the growing demand for its technology among spatial biologists and cell biologists.

Jerome Shen, General Partner of Taiwania’s Bio Fund, expressed his enthusiasm for Syncell’s potential to transform spatial biology and proteomics research. “The company has tremendous potential to transform spatial biology and proteomics research in an unbiased way, helping researchers gain high sensitivity and high specificity in their detection and analysis of proteins,” he stated.

Syncell’s technology has already demonstrated its capabilities in various research applications, including oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases, metabolic diseases, and developmental biology. The company’s spatial opto-proteomics platform has enabled researchers to uncover proteins present in disease-associated aggregates within human postmortem brain tissue, identifying potential biomarkers for future diagnostics or therapeutic targets.

Wilfried Rossoll, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neuroscience at the Mayo Clinic, highlighted the significance of Syncell’s technology in his research. “Syncell’s spatial opto-proteomics platform enables us to uncover the proteins present in disease-associated aggregates within human postmortem brain tissue. This technology allows us to identify potential biomarkers for future diagnostics or therapeutic targets in an unbiased manner—achievements not possible with other spatial biology methods,” he noted.

In addition to its commercial growth, Syncell has begun building relationships with downstream technology partners. The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Thermo Fisher Scientific covering its mass spectrometer instruments and workflows. Such partnerships will support Syncell’s continued growth across industry segments.

Syncell showcased its Microscoop technology at Cell Bio 2024, the joint meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) and European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), held in San Diego, Calif. The company’s presentation, “Reinventing the Proteome: Microscopy-Guided Subcellular Protein Isolation with the Syncell Microscoop,” highlighted the capabilities of its technology in spatial proteomics analysis.

With this Series A funding, Syncell is poised to further accelerate its global commercialization efforts, expanding its commercial team and scaling up its operations to meet the growing demand for its Microscoop platform. The company’s innovative technology is set to make a significant impact in the field of spatial proteomics, enabling researchers to uncover new insights into biological processes and disease mechanisms.