I joined Prolific because I believe light 💡 is the best input for controlling biology. Until now, biotech has relied on indirect cell control via the environment. Prolific changes this by directly interacting with the inner machinery of the cell with light. Learn more below!

Spent three years looking for a team in Biodefense to invest in. But never found one. So we built it ourselves. Valthos builds next-generation biodefense. As AI and biotech rapidly advance, we're approaching near-universal access to tools with the potential to cure humanity or

Longevity is an answer to so many of the challenges facing America. → Exploding debt + deficits → Slowing GDP → Declining fertility We go into it in detail here (and details matter here, so it's worth the extra characters). https://t.co/Z2tubhiaEU Simplified argument

So grateful to have been part of the inaugural cohort with @reprogrants ❤️ Check out the new cohort below ⬇️ For the bold and unconventional thinkers!

notes on getting stronger this season of life. link in thread

Apply to be part of an incredible team!

This is just the beginning! Excited to continue bringing this new to the world technology -- using light to control cell behaviour -- to the market! 💡

6/6 Imagine the possibilities when we can guide cell behavior as easily as a plant follows the sun. 🌞

5/6 This precise, tunable, and reversible control allows us to modulate nearly any cellular function—or even multiple functions at once. It’s like having a remote control for cells!

4/6💡Here’s how it works: when exposed to the right wavelength, these proteins change shape, turning processes like gene expression on. Turn off the light, and they change again, stopping the function.

3/6 By attaching these light-sensitive proteins to specific components within the cell, we can switch cellular functions on or off with remarkable precision.

2/6 These proteins, found in plants, algae, and bacteria, detect specific wavelengths of light and activate cellular processes—just like how plants grow toward the sun.

1/6 Ever wondered how plants know to grow toward light? 🌱☀️ At Prolific Machines, we use a similar concept with molecular optogenetics, harnessing light-sensitive proteins to precisely control cell behavior with light.

This is one of my favorite stories I’ve reported, thanks to work from @laura_pritschet @chrastil and @emilyjacobs et al we now have a fairly detailed look at the brain of one woman before, during and after pregnancy. Read for more details over at @_TheTransmitter

A few years ago I was in a position to do something unique in neuroscience. I had been working with the phenomenal @emilyjacobs on menopause and inspired by @laura_pritschet's menstrual study, and I was planning a pregnancy. What if we scanned my brain?? https://t.co/mTLfToPhru

.@UCSBPsych's Professor Emily Jacobs and her team shed light on the impacts of pregnancy on the human brain, documenting the first-ever map of a human brain over the course of a pregnancy and postpartum. 🧠 https://t.co/U9zXJ4tUE6

FAQ: How is molecular optogenetics different from photosynthesis? Optogenetics uses light to control cell behavior, while photosynthesis uses it as an energy source. Hence, optogenetic experiments require far less light – often up to 1,000x less than photosynthesis.

7/7 With light, we’re not just controlling cells—we're transforming how we think about biomanufacturing. Read more at https://t.co/QbifnvbHCq or reach out at partners@prolific-machines.com.

6/7 What’s more, light is machine-operable and optimizable. It bridges the gap between biology and machines, allowing us to use machine learning to enhance cell-based manufacturing.

5/7 It's inherently sterile and reproducible. Light avoids contamination risks 🦠 and allows for consistent results in experimental and production contexts.

4/7 Light offers precise control— enabling real-time, localized manipulation of cellular processes, which isn't achievable with conventional inputs.