Our Mission
Translating the biology of regulatory T cells (Tregs) into transformational medicines for patients with progressive multiple sclerosis and other serious autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
Who We Are
Abata was launched in 2021 by Third Rock Ventures with a $95 million Series A financing and brings together industry experts and deeply engaged pioneers in regulatory T cell (Treg) biology, T cell receptor (TCR) and antigen discovery, disease pathogenesis, and molecular and imaging biomarkers to advance the development of Treg cell therapies for serious autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Together, we are bringing an entirely new approach to the treatment of autoimmune disease by engineering Tregs as targeted therapies that stop immune-mediated destruction, restore homeostasis – a state of harmony – and promote repair in the affected tissues.

It’s all in the name
Abata’s story begins with our name.
In Nyanja, a Bantu language widely spoken in southern Africa, “abata” means “tranquil,” and “ndi malo abata” translates to “it’s a quiet place.” In Esperanto, “abata” means “of an abbey,” a place of peace. “Abata” is the very essence of what our Treg cell therapies seek to do: restore tranquility, peace and harmony in the body.
Full Team
Founders & Advisors

Daniel Reich, M.D., Ph.D.
Senior Investigator, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke At the National Institutes of Health; Adjunct Professor of Radiology, Neurology and Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University

Diane Mathis, Ph.D.
Professor of Immunology, Morton Grove-Rasmussen chair of immunohematology, Harvard Medical School

Michael Birnbaum, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biological Engineering, MIT

Richard M. Ransohoff, M.D.
Venture Partner, Third Rock Ventures

Roland Martin, M.D.
Professor of Neurology and Neuroimmunology; University Hospital of Zürich
Board of Directors

Abbie Celniker, Ph.D.
Chair; Partner, Third Rock Ventures

David Kaufman, M.D., Ph.D.
Partner, Third Rock Ventures

Lorence Kim, M.D.
Co-founder and Managing Partner, Ascenta Capital

Mitchell H. Finer, Ph.D.
Executive Partner, MPM Capital; President of R&D, ElevateBio; CEO, Life Edit Therapeutics

Nagesh Mahanthappa, Ph.D., MBA
Independent Director at Abata Therapeutics, Casma Therapeutics, Exo Therapeutics, and Kojin Therapeutics

Samantha Singer, MBA
President & Chief Executive Officer

Shelley Chu, M.D., Ph.D.
Partner, Head of Biotech, Lightspeed Venture Partners

Valerie Odegard, Ph.D.
President and Chief Scientific Officer, Silverback Therapeutics
Advisory Board

Charles Cooney, Ph.D
Robert T. Haslam Professor Emeritus in the MIT Department of Chemical Engineering

Diane Mathis, Ph.D.
Professor of Immunology, Morton Grove-Rasmussen chair of immunohematology, Harvard Medical School

Gerald Nepom, M.D., Ph.D
Director, Immune Tolerance Network and Founder and former Director of the Benaroya Research Institute

John Maraganore, Ph.D
Former founding CEO of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Investors






Careers with Abata
Join Our Team
If you’re ready to take a bold step in your career and challenge convention, this is your team!