Jonathan Thon
Founder & CEO | STRM.BIO
Boston, MA, UNITED STATES
Jonathan Thon is an accomplished serial biotech entrepreneur, a recognized leader in human cell culture, and the founder of STRM.BIO.
Biography
Jonathan excels at translating scientific advances into preclinical, and clinical stage programs. He is a problem solver and a disruptive innovator, with major contributions that include the production of extracellular vesicles for nonviral gene delivery, functional human platelets from stem cells, and the invention of bioreactor platforms to scale cell culture.
Before STRM.BIO, Jonathan was CEO & CSO of Platelet BioGenesis (now Stellular Bio), which he took from a startup concept to a Series A-1 company of over 40 employees. Jonathan was also a professor and lecturer at Harvard Medical School, where he guided dozens of students toward rewarding careers in medicine and biopharma. He is a frequent speaker at scientific conferences, entrepreneurship meetings, and thought leadership events around the world.
Jonathan earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of British Columbia and completed his postdoctoral research fellowship in hematology at Harvard Medical School.
Industry Expertise (1)
Advanced Medical Equipment
Areas of Expertise (11)
Clinical Research
Life Sciences
Education
Stem Cell Biology
Human Cell Culture
Biomimetic Fluid Processing
Molecular Biology
Biochemistry
Board Participation
Western Blotting
Genetics
Education (3)
The University of British Columbia: Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2008
McMaster University: H.B.Sc., Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering 2004
Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women's Hospital: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Hematology 2013
Joseph E. Italiano, Ph.D., faculty advisor
Multimedia
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Affiliations (2)
- Reviewer of Peer-reviewed Journals including Blood, Platelets, PLoS ONE, Nature Communications, Canadian Medical Association Journal, Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
- Chairman, The XXII Congress of the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 2009
Links (5)
Selected Media Appearances (3)
STRM.BIO Presents Preclinical Data on a Novel Bone Marrow/HSPC-Targeted, Megakaryocyte-Derived Extracellular Vesicle Delivery Platform for In Vivo Gene Therapy at the Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa
Yahoo! Finance online
2023-10-11
"In vivo delivery is the limiting factor in gene delivery," said Jonathan Thon, Ph.D., CEO of STRM.BIO. "The data we presented today reinforce the potential of megakaryocyte-derived EVs to be a transformative platform for development of highly targeted in vivo delivery of gene therapies. Moreover, use of these EVs enables the possibility of repeat dosing, greatly expanding the landscape of diseases that could be treated with this approach."
STRM.BIO Receives Extension of Grant to Advance In Vivo Gene Therapy Delivery Platform
Yahoo! Finance
2023-10-03
"We are inspired by the ongoing support of the Gates Foundation and look forward to expanding on the promise of our in vivo gene delivery platform," said Jonathan Thon, Ph.D., CEO and Founder of STRM.BIO. "The ability to target delivery of editing technology to the right cells in the body is a major hurdle for the gene therapy field. Our team is exploring important aspects of this challenge and support from the foundation will help advance our efforts to broaden the reach of gene therapies to patients around the world."
Asked and Answered: Jonathan Thon Talks about Bringing Gene Therapy to Life
Inside Precision Medicine online
2022-08-16
A serial biotech entrepreneur, Jonathan Thon, is the founder and CEO of STRM.BIO, a pre-clinical, VC-backed biotechnology company that is leveraging extracellular vesicles (EVs) to deliver gene therapies. Prior to launching STRM.BIO, he founded and served as CEO / CSO of PlateletBio where he helped develop next-generation allogeneic cell therapies for the treatment of human diseases. Today, he has an audacious goal–to democratize gene therapy by developing a simpler, safer, and more affordable way to deliver treatment.
Patents (3)
Systems and methods for biomimetic fluid processing
US11566214
2023 Systems and methods generating physiologic models that can produce functional biological substances are provided. In some aspects, a system includes a substrate and a first and second channel formed therein. The channels extend longitudinally and are substantially parallel to each other. A series of apertures extend between the first channel and second channel to create a fluid communication path passing through columns separating the channels that extends further along the longitudinal dimension than other dimensions. The system also includes a first source configured to selectively introduce into the first channel a first biological composition at a first channel flow rate and a second source configured to selectively introduce into the second channel a second biological composition at a second channel flow rate, wherein the first channel flow rate and the second channel flow rate create a differential configured to generate physiological shear rates within a predetermined range in the channels.
System and method for a biomimetic fluid processing
US11396016
2022 A system and method are provided for harvesting target biological substances. The system includes a substrate and a first and second channel formed in the substrate. The channels longitudinally extending substantially parallel to each other. A series of gaps extend from the first channel to the second channel to create a fluid communication path passing between a series of columns with the columns being longitudinally separated by a predetermined separation distance. The system also includes a first source configured to selectively introduce into the first channel a first biological composition at a first channel flow rate and a second source configured to selectively introduce into the second channel a second biological composition at a second channel flow rate. The sources are configured to create a differential between the first and second channel flow rates to generate physiological shear rates along the second channel that are bounded within a predetermined range.
System and method for biomimetic fluid processing
US10710073
2020 A system and method are provided for harvesting target biological substances. The system includes a substrate and a first and second channel formed in the substrate. The channels longitudinally extending substantially parallel to each other. A series of gaps extend from the first channel to the second channel to create a fluid communication path passing between a series of columns with the columns being longitudinally separated by a predetermined separation distance. The system also includes a first source configured to selectively introduce into the first channel a first biological composition at a first channel flow rate and a second source configured to selectively introduce into the second channel a second biological composition at a second channel flow rate. The sources are configured to create a differential between the first and second channel flow rates to generate physiological shear rates along the second channel that are bounded within a predetermined range.
Selected Articles (3)
Sequence-specific 2'-O-methoxyethyl antisense oligonucleotides activate human platelets through glycoprotein VI, triggering formation of platelet-leukocyte aggregates
Haematologica2022 Antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) are DNA-based, disease-modifying drugs. Clinical trials with 2'-O-methoxyethyl (2’MOE) ASO have shown dose-and sequence-specific lowering of platelet counts according to two phenotypes. Phenotype 1 is a moderate (but not clinically severe) drop in platelet count. Phenotype 2 is rare, severe thrombocytopenia. This article focuses on the underlying cause of the more common phenotype 1, investigating the effects of ASO on platelet production and platelet function. Five phosphorothioate ASO were studied: three 2’MOE sequences; 487660 (no effects on platelet count), 104838 (associated with phenotype 1), and 501861 (effects unknown) and two CpG sequences; 120704 and ODN 2395 (known to activate platelets). Human cord bloodderived megakaryocytes were treated with these ASO to study their effects on proplatelet production.
Transfer to the clinic: refining forward programming of hPSCs to megakaryocytes for platelet production in bioreactors
Blood Advances2021 The production of in vitro–derived platelets has great potential for transfusion medicine. Here, we build on our experience in the forward programming (FoP) of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to megakaryocytes (MKs) and address several aspects of the complex challenges to bring this technology to the bedside. We first identify clinical-grade hPSC lines that generate MKs efficiently. We design a bespoke media to maximize both production and maturity of MKs and improve platelet output. Crucially, we transition the lentiviral-based FoP of hPSCs to a nonviral inducible system. We also show how small molecules promote a definitive hematopoiesis phenotype during the differentiation process, thereby increasing the quality of the final product. Finally, we generate platelets using a bioreactor designed to reproduce the physical cues that promote platelet production in the bone marrow.
In Vitro Functionality of hiPSC Derived PLT+: The Utility of Microfluidic Assays in Determining Potency
Blood2019 There is a growing shortage of platelets, the principal blood cells responsible for clot formation and blood vessel repair at sites of active bleeding. Platelet BioGenesis (PBG) is developing a commercial-scale, donor-free platelet (PLT+) production process using a cGMP-grade human induced pluripotent stem cell line (hiPSC) to address this issue. The PLT+ activity is being characterized extensively through multiple approaches that measure hemostatic function both in vitro and in vivo, with the ultimate goal of determining a clinical dose in humans. Alongside tests such as the current gold standard thrombin generation assay (TGA), we have developed an in-house microfluidic model to measure the ability of PLT+ to adhere to extracellular proteins under flow. The assay captures the surface receptor dynamics, as well as the ability of PLT+ to initiate coagulation.
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