Q&A with Dan Bell: How Bell Biosystems is creating the world’s first living MRI cell tracking technology.
Less than 3 years after becoming a Breakout Labs grantee, Bell Biosystems raised a $3 million Series A round toward the development of Magnelles that create magnetic nanoparticles for tracking implanted cells in real time using standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Just last month, the company celebrated another major milestone: shipping their first Magnelle Cell Tracking Kit to Cedars-Sinai. We spoke with co-founder Dan Bell about the achievement and what it means to the ongoing success of the San Francisco-based startup.
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Bell Biosystems celebrates the shipment of their 1st Magnelle Cell Tracking Kit.[/caption]
BREAKOUT LABS: Could you tell us a bit about your background and what led you to Bell Biosystems?
DAN BELL: My current and former colleagues would probably say that I specialize as a utility player with cross-functional expertise in marketing, operations, finance and relationship management. In 2007, I worked with an excellent team at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to identify and implement revenue growth opportunities across the hospital’s divisions. In 2008, I joined a startup energy company and did “whatever was needed” to help the business grow, which it did rapidly. In 2010, my role at the company evolved into co-leading the launch and expansion of new products, which grew to $30MM within 2 years. Throughout my career, I’ve been most successful in the tactical execution of a company’s vision and believe that is why my co-founder Caleb asked me to start Bell Biosystems with him and lead most of the non-scientific aspects of the company.
BOL: Could you briefly explain the function of your Magnelle cell tracking agents and how they add new function to cells?
DB: Simply put, our Magnelle agents have a natural ability to create perfect nanomagnets. When the Magnelle agents are put inside cells, the cells become magnetic. And when cells are magnetic, they can be imaged and tracked with non-invasive MRI. What’s most exciting is that Magnelle agents combine the best features of all alternatives to create the world’s first living MRI cell tracking technology.
BOL: Which fields stand to benefit the most from your technology?
DB: Our novel products are advancing imaging techniques in the fields of oncology, regenerative medicine, neuroscience, and vascular disease research. Essentially, anyone who has a need to (or should) track their cells in vivo can greatly benefit by using our products.
BOL: Last week, you made your first shipment of the Magnelle Cell Tracking Kit and MagTag Labeling Device to Cedar Sinai. Can you talk a bit about the significance of this milestone and what it means you and your team?
DB: This is a major milestone for us and I attribute this success to the dedicated scientists and rest of the team who have worked tirelessly over the past few years. Scientific research is hard, especially when you’re trying to solve problems the world hasn’t solved before. So to see the research transform into a commercial product that helps people is one of the most rewarding things a company like ours can achieve.
To find out how we’re helping innovators like Bell Biosystems take their brilliant ideas out of the lab and into the economy, visit BreakoutLabs.org.
