SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.,– Bell Biosystems Inc. announced two major developments in its pioneering efforts to create synthetic organelles for life science research: Series A financing and acceptance into the Janssen Labs Program at QB3@953 in San Francisco, the premier life science startup incubator in the Bay Area.

The new funds are being used to scale up R&D efforts, increase industry partnerships and expand collaborations with key opinion leaders who are integrating Magnelles®, the world’s first living MRI contrast agents, into their preclinical research programs. Magnelles® are genetically wired to reproduce within cells and their progeny, making them a unique tool to track cells noninvasively.

“With this financing and compelling experimental results from our early adopters and industry partners, we are accelerating commercialization of the Magnelle®. We’re thrilled that our previous investors are being joined by the Stanford-StartX Fund, top tier Silicon Valley Angels, Angel Groups and Venture Capitalists to fund our continuing efforts,” said Caleb Bell, CEO of Bell Biosystems.

Bell Biosystems has proved the versatility of Magnelles® in a variety of cell types, earned revenue, expanded the team and IP estate, and undertaken initial toxicology studies to assess potential clinical applications.

“We have watched Bell Biosystems progress from a base of exciting science combining the fields of synthetic biology with cell biology to a company proving the commercial utility of Magnelles® in multiple research settings,” said new Director Christian Olgaard and part of the Lead Investor team. “With this new level of financial and infrastructural support, we are confident that the team be able to build rapidly on its early successes.”

About Bell Biosystems

Bell Biosystems, Inc. is San Francisco based synthetic biology company backed by private investors and Breakout Labs, a project of the Thiel Foundation. The company’s mission is to pioneer the use of synthetic organelles to accelerate product development through discovery, innovation and collaboration.

Bell Biosystems’ first-in-class product, the Magnelle® is a living MRI contrast agent that provides researchers and businesses a novel way to non-invasively monitor and control transplanted cells in vivo. Cells labeled with Magnelles® can be tracked longitudinally because of the Magnelles® unique ability to self replicate.

About Janssen Labs

Janssen Labs provides a capital-efficient, resource-rich environment where emerging companies can transform the scientific discoveries today into the breakthrough healthcare products of tomorrow. Janssen Labs at QB3 is a 5,000sqft satellite site consisting of lab and office space within QB3’s newly built 24,000sqft facility at 953 Indiana Street, San Francisco, CA.

About QB3

QB3 is a cooperative effort among private industry and more than 220 scientists at UC San Francisco, UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz. One of four technology institutes created in 2000 by former California Governor Gray Davis, QB3 has a joint mission of supporting science, driving the California economy and transforming scientific research into public good.