10036093LabGenius: Using synthetic biology, machine learning and robotics to discover a safer, more effective Nectin-4 T-cell engager for advanced cancers.ClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKLabGenius is a UK biotechnology company that combines robotic automation, synthetic biology and advanced machine learning to explore protein fitness landscapes and improve multiple drug properties simultaneously. LabGenius' mission is to accelerate the discovery of next-generation therapeutic antibodies by pioneering the development of a smart robotic platform (**EVA(tm)**) that is capable of designing, conducting and, critically, learning from its own experiments. Cancer is the number one cause of death worldwide with over 40% of men and women being diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime (John Hopkins, 2022). The economic cost of cancer was estimated at £930 billion in 2021 and this cost is expected to rise. In the UK alone there are \>350,000 new cases of cancer a year (ONS,2022). Common cancers include those affecting the lungs (13%), bladder (3%) and ovaries (2%) (Siegel,2022). T-cell engagers (TCE) are seen as a way forward to treat cancers successfully without negatively impacting the rest of the body, however, to date only two TCEs have been marketed as many fail in clinical trials due to severe adverse side effects and low efficacy. In this project, LabGenius will use their machine learning-driven approach to optimise a T-cell engager for the treatment of advanced cancers, enabling candidates with better efficacy and safety to be taken forward for future development. LabGenius' technology platform sets it apart from the competition in speed and quality of drug candidates discovered.