b'Umoja Biopharma, (umoja being Swahili forThat biologic contains genetic information unity) seeks to change that. Umoja aims tothat reprograms T cells to fight cancers that My bigger visiontarget solid tumors starting with gynecologicalhave cloaked themselves to become invis-cancers and prostate cancer, and it intendsible to typical T cells. Those reprogrammed is really puttingto do so without having to grow engineeredT cells then multiply in the patient and fight T cells in a lab. As Ryan Crisman, Ph.D., thecancer until the cancers gone. That, at least, Colorado oncompanys Co-Founder and Chief Technologyis the idea. Umoja is aiming for phase 1 Officer puts it, The patient becomes their ownclinical trials in 2024 and FDA approval and the map as amanufacturing facility. commercialization within five years. So far, Seattle-based Umoja has just moved into aCrisman says, the data from animal models cell and gene77,000-square-foot manufacturing facility ofback those ambitions.its own in Louisville, half of a 140,000-square- I think this has the potential to have a big therapy hub. foot building they intend to grow into. Aboutimpact on patient care, he says. Were hyper-half the companys workforce of 160 are infocused on getting this product into the clinic.Colorado, Crisman says. They need that facilityCrisman, who earned his Ph.D. in chemical RYAN CRISMAN, Ph.D. to make what he calls probably the most Co-Founder and CTO engineering at CU Boulder and went on to Umoja Biopharma complex biologic ever infused into a patient.work at CAR T-cell pioneer Juno Therapeutics (acquired by Celgene for $9 billion in 2018), Umoja Biopharma builtsays the decision to develop products and a 140,000-square-footmanufacture in Colorado came down to abun-facility in Louisville dant talent here and an environment thats attractive to employees willing to relocate.My bigger vision is really putting Colorado on the map as a cell and gene therapy hub, Crisman says. And to do that, we do need to bring in outside talent and really build an eco-system of folks who have started companies and delivered success in the past. WATCH AND LEARNAccess Video Content10 BIOSCIENCE COLORADO 2023-2024'