ICR’s spinout company “Sentinal4D” has officially been launched

Sentinal4D has officially been launched, having secured its first round of funding and established a strong leadership team.

This innovative company is set to transform drug discovery and development in oncology, leveraging proprietary AI-driven techniques to create personalized therapeutics.

“We’re excited to announce the formation of ICR spinout company Sentinal4D, which is taking a new and highly innovative approach in using 3D-imaging analysis powered by AI for precision therapeutics in oncology.

Sentinal4D is the latest of several new spinout companies to emerge from our work at the ICR, as we continue to encourage scientists to found companies as part of the mix of what they do.” – said Dr Jon Wilkinson, Director of Business and Innovation at The Institute of Cancer Research, London

Built on years of research from Professor Chris Bakal’s lab at the ICR, Sentinal4D focuses on using 3D imaging and computational models to improve the precision and efficiency of drug development. Professor Bakal, a leading expert in the role of cell shape in cancer, will serve as Chief Scientific Officer.

“Sentinal4D brings together several strands of expertise we’ve been building in the lab for a number of years – including a deepening understanding of the role of cellular shapeshifting in cancer, innovative new methods of drug discovery, and AI-driven analysis of data including image data.

We’re delighted to see it launch following a successful round of pre-seed funding.” – said Chris Bakal, Professor of Dynamical Cell Systems at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and scientific co-founder of Sentinal4D.

Sentinal4D aims to streamline the drug discovery process by providing actionable insights that enhance the chances of success in later drug development stages. The company combines advanced 3D imaging of cancer models, an AI-powered computer vision system, and multimodal data integration to predict drug responses, efficacy, toxicity, and identify the most responsive patient groups.

The launch of Sentinal4D was supported by Twin Path Ventures, Arben Ventures, and angel investors, alongside the Cancer Tech Accelerator, which is backed by Capital Enterprise, Cancer Research Horizons, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Dr. Georgia Mitsi, the company’s CEO and co-founder, brings a wealth of experience in pharmaceuticals and innovation, playing a key role in transferring the technology and securing pre-seed funding.

“For many years I have been working with start-ups and innovative technologies. Sentinal4D’s cutting-edge technology enables a new approach to drug discovery and development that could transform the traditional ways of working by adapting a biology-first, holistic strategy.” – said Dr Georgia Mitsi, CEO of Sentinal4D.

Joining her is co-founder and CTO Matt de Vries, an AI expert trained in Professor Bakal’s lab. Matt’s work on analyzing 3D cancer cell shapes has been featured at top conferences such as MICCAI and NeurIPS and published in Cell Systems. He also received the Early Career Entrepreneur of the Year award from Cancer Research Horizons.

Sentinal4D is the second spinout from ICR this year, following successful ventures like Monte Rosa Therapeutics, now listed on NASDAQ.

The research behind Sentinal4D was supported by Cancer Research UK and the ICR, reflecting its strong foundation in cutting-edge science and innovation.

“Considering the poor success rates and challenges in drug development, we now have the opportunity to finally realise the vision for personalised therapeutics and bring effective treatments to patients faster, better and cheaper.

With all the hype around AI, at Sentinal4D we strive to differentiate ourselves by emphasising that high quality, deep level data is the key to predictive modelling. I am looking forward to taking the company to the next level and start working with other innovative companies that share the same vision.” – said Georgia Mitsi, CEO of Sentinal4D

About Institute of Cancer Research (ICR)

The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London is a world-renowned center for cancer research and education. Founded in 1909, it has pioneered breakthroughs in understanding, diagnosing, and treating cancer.

Closely linked with The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, the ICR translates cutting-edge research into effective treatments. Its innovations include targeted therapies and groundbreaking genetic discoveries.