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 or Advisors

Daniel Reich, M.D., Ph.D.

Scientific Advisor

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

John Maraganore, Ph.D

Business Advisor

Former founding CEO of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

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.

Independent Director; Chief Executive Officer, Dovetail Therapeutics and Venture Partner, Orbimed

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!