Via Scientific Announces Christopher Mason, PhD, Joining as Science, Product and AI Advisor

The company strengthens its scientific and product teams to further accelerate multi-omics analytics and AI innovation

Cambridge, MA — Dec 11, 2024 — Via Scientific, Inc. today announced the appointment of Christopher Mason, PhD, to its Science, Product, and AI Advisory Board. Via Scientific, the maker of Via Foundry, is a leading multi-omics analytics platform that enables pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and academic researchers to radically accelerate their discovery and understanding of new biological insights.

Jim Crowley, CEO of Via Scientific, said, “We are privileged to welcome Chris to our team. His singular insights, unique perspectives, and innovative ideas will further enrich the rapidly expanding scientific analytical landscape we support and enhance our efforts to push the boundaries of what is possible in multi-omics analytics.”

Dr. Mason is a recognized leader in computational genomics and neuroscience. He currently serves as the co-founding Director of the WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction and as a Research Scholar at the WorldQuant Foundation. Additionally, he is a Professor of Computational Genomics at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Institute for Computational Biomedicine and holds a secondary appointment as Professor of Neuroscience at the Weill Cornell Medicine Brain & Mind Institute.

His groundbreaking research includes serving as a principal investigator for NASA’s Twins Study, leading the first DNA sequencing in zero gravity, and leader of the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA), demonstrating his ability to push the boundaries of genomic and medical research. Dr. Mason employs innovative computational and experimental methodologies to uncover the functional genetic elements of the human genome and metagenome. His work encompasses a diverse range of research, from molecular profiling of patients with extreme phenotypes, such as brain malformations and aggressive cancers, to studying astronauts by analyzing the effects of microgravity on the human body through twin comparisons. By leveraging cutting-edge DNA/RNA sequencing techniques and exploring base modifications, his team creates multi-dimensional molecular maps at various scales—from single cells and urban environments to space stations.

In addition to his research, Dr. Mason has developed several open-source software packages for genomics, epigenomics, metagenomics, and machine learning, reflecting his commitment to advancing bioinformatics tools. He has also co-founded four biotechnology startups, further contributing to the advancement of the field.

“Via Scientific is a ‘science first’ team, and their philosophy aligns well with my own approach to research,” said Dr. Mason. “The Foundry platform accelerates scientific discovery by simplifying and unifying multi-omics analytics and AI, empowering scientists to explore new horizons. Its ability to seamlessly integrate new methods and algorithms, in combination with its expansive metadata capabilities, inspires us to redefine the boundaries of what’s possible. I look forward to working with the Via Scientific team to accelerate its capabilities and applicability to precision medicine, molecular diagnostics and beyond.”

For more information about Via Scientific and its innovative projects, please visit www.viascientific.com.

About Via Scientific Inc.

Via Scientific Inc., a Cambridge-based tech and AI company, has launched Via Foundry, a multi-omics accelerator platform designed to advance scientific breakthroughs. Via Foundry automates complex data tasks with features like drag-and-drop pipelines and customizable analytics, ensuring data is shareable, reusable, and reproducible, allowing researchers to focus on scientific insights instead of code. Via Scientific supports biotech, pharma, research institutes, and universities.