OpenCell Technologies, an R&D-stage biomedical venture, has appointed Kevin Gutshall as chief executive officer to lead efforts to translate and commercialize its core technology platform, POROS. Kevin joins the company from MilliporeSigma where he served as director of life science business development and M&A focusing on the cell and gene therapy business unit.   

OpenCell was established based on technology developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology, which has broad applications ranging from fuel and energy to life sciences, is focused on the rapidly emerging cell and gene therapy market.

During its seed stage, the company benefitted from BioGenerator Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIR) that brought key expertise to the company as it pivoted from the research tools market to cell and gene therapy applications. Paul Olivo, MD, PhD, a former BioGenerator EIR and current Venture Partner at Synchrony Bio, which also participated in the current financing, serves as a key advisor to OpenCell, managing the company's research team. In her role as BioGenerator EIR, Heather Holeman, PhD, now CEO of Lifespan Biosciences, facilitated key business development connections for the company.  Concurrent with the financing, Charlie Bolten, Senior Vice President of BioGenerator, joins OpenCell's board of directors.

In addition to investments from BioGenerator and Synchrony Bio, the company has leveraged significant Federal grant funding – over $3M total – to help secure equity financing and achieve key milestones that helped attract strategic partnering interest as well as its new CEO.