Dr Layla Hosseini-Gerami (Downing 2018), who was recently featured in an interview by Cambridge Development and Alumni Relations, is making an impact at the intersection of chemistry, biology and artificial intelligence (AI) as the co-founder of Ignota Labs, a Cambridge-based start-up focused on improving drug safety.
After completing her PhD at the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, Layla has used AI to help ‘rescue’ shelved drug candidates by predicting their effects on the human body and redesigning them to reduce toxicity without losing effectiveness. This approach aims to speed up drug development, reduce costs and offer new hope to patients. Recently, she received a Women in Innovation award from Innovate UK, recognising her as one of 50 leading women entrepreneurs tackling important challenges, including addressing disparities in drug safety for diverse populations.
Layla’s passion for chemistry began early, inspired by her education at an all-girls school and a love of practical experiments. After an internship at a Cambridge drug discovery software company, she decided to pursue her PhD at Downing College and the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry. There, she joined the Bender group, which applies AI to drug discovery, gaining valuable experience and exposure to Cambridge’s collaborative and entrepreneurial environment.
She credits her time at Cambridge for shaping her approach to collaboration and innovation, as well as for connecting her with the start-up ecosystem. Layla also speaks openly about the challenges women face in leadership roles within AI and biotech highlighting the importance of resilience and mentoring.
Now based at Cambridge Science Park, Ignota Labs recently closed a £5.5 million seed funding round to expand their AI platform and tackle drug toxicity globally.
Her advice to aspiring professionals is simple but powerful: “Trust in yourself and your abilities. Don’t let that voice in your head convince you that you’re not good enough. Because you are.”
You can read Layla’s full interview here.
Layla was also featured in the BBC article “Trailblazing tech women honoured as 'role models.”
Image supplied by Layla Hosseini-Gerami.
