iOrganBio, a pioneer in intelligent cell manufacturing, announced today the appointment of Zhiping Pang, M.D., Ph.D., to its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Pang, a leading authority on human neuron biology, synaptic function, and the molecular mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric and metabolic disorders, brings extensive expertise to the company as it advances AI-enabled, scalable production of human cells and organoids.
Dr. Pang is the Henry Rutgers Professor of NeuroMetabolism and Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Director of the Center for NeuroMetabolism at Rutgers Health. With over 140 publications in top journals including Nature, Science, Nature Neuroscience, and Nature Metabolism, his research focuses on understanding neuronal communication and how disruptions contribute to conditions such as autism, schizophrenia, and obesity.
This appointment bolsters iOrganBio's position as a leader in the development of human-relevant, non-animal testing systems, known as New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), which are gaining traction with regulators like the FDA. The company's CellForge™ platform uses AI and automation to consistently manufacture cells and organoids for in vitro modeling and cell therapies, guided by its functional human CellAtlas™—a comprehensive reference built from single-cell and multi-omics data.
“Dr. Pang’s deep understanding of human neuron biology will be invaluable as we expand our capabilities in neurobiology and metabolic disease modeling,” said a company spokesperson. “His insights will help ensure our AI-driven platform produces cells that accurately reflect human biology, accelerating drug discovery and reducing reliance on animal testing.”
The move comes as the pharmaceutical industry increasingly seeks more predictive human models to improve drug development success rates. By integrating Pang’s expertise, iOrganBio aims to enhance the fidelity of its neural cell and organoid products, which could lead to better screening of psychiatric and metabolic drugs.
For more information about iOrganBio and its CellForge platform, visit iOrgan.Bio.
