Scientific excellence meets strategic leadership
NorthX Biologics is delighted to welcome Professor Mia Phillipson to its Board of Directors. A distinguished scientist, entrepreneur, and leader in translational research, Mia brings extensive experience spanning academic discovery, innovation, and clinical development. She is a Knut and Alice Wallenberg Scholar, a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA), the Co-Director of SciLifeLab, and serves on the Board of Uppsala University.
Her appointment comes at a time of significant recognition for her scientific contributions, following the award of the 2026 Rudbeck Medal from Uppsala University.
Janet Hoogstraate, CEO of NorthX Biologics, welcomed the appointment:
We are thrilled to welcome Mia to our Board of Directors. Her unique combination of scientific excellence and practical experience in advancing discoveries into clinical development will be invaluable as we continue to grow and support innovators in advanced biologics. We are also delighted to see her receive this well-deserved recognition. Her work exemplifies the successful translation of fundamental research into clinical impact, and we warmly congratulate her.”
Reflecting on her role at NorthX Biologics, she says:
“NorthX’s greatest strength lies in its agility and close collaboration with customers, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of advanced therapeutic modalities. Companies need a CDMO that acts as a true partner, understanding the product, solving problems together, and adapting as the project develops. Trust, expertise, and flexibility are key.”
Mia Phillipson, Member of the Board, NorthX Biologics
From discovery to patient: Mia Phillipson on science, ecosystems and the role of manufacturing and scale-up expertise
To mark her appointment, we asked Mia about what drew her to NorthX Biologics, what drives her as a researcher, and where she sees the industry heading.
What made you say yes to joining the NorthX Biologics Board of Directors at this stage? What potential did you see in the company?
Several reasons! I am passionate about translating scientific discoveries into therapies that can make a difference for patients, where excellent science is the starting point. But successful translation also requires an ecosystem with the right expertise and infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing is a critical part of that.
As Co-Director of SciLifeLab, I see many promising drug-development projects emerging from academia, and I believe we need to create the conditions for these projects and young companies to develop and grow in Sweden. I have also been through this journey myself, taking a discovery from my laboratory through company formation and into clinical development, so I know first-hand how important the environment around the discoveries becomes.
In NorthX Biologics, I saw an opportunity to contribute to that ecosystem, while also strengthening a capability that is important for Sweden’s national resilience.
What perspective or experience do you hope to contribute most in your role on the Board?
Having followed discoveries from basic research through company formation and into clinical development, breaking new ground, I will contribute a combination of scientific perspective and first-hand translational experience. And through SciLifeLab, I have a broad view of emerging technologies and the needs of academic projects and young life-science companies, which I hope can help NorthX Biologics anticipate where the field is going.
You are receiving the 2026 Rudbeck Medal for your scientific achievements. What does this recognition mean to you, and what has been most important in your journey as a researcher and innovator?
It is, of course, a great honour. Recognition of this kind does not happen very often, so receiving the Rudbeck Medal means a great deal to me. I see it as recognition not only of my own work, but of the fantastic people I have had the privilege to work with over the years.
My main driving forces are curiosity and to follow unexpected findings, which requires quite a lot of persistence. Research rarely follows a straight path, and some of the most interesting discoveries come from results you did not anticipate. I have always been motivated by the possibility of taking fundamental biological discoveries one step further to ultimately make a difference for patients. That connection between discovery and translation has been a very important part of what we do.
Through your experience in both academia and innovation, how do you see the relationship between scientific excellence and successful translation into therapies and commercial applications?
Scientific excellence is the foundation for successful translation, but it cannot do it by itself. If you have a strong scientific idea, access to the best technologies, and rigorous and relevant models, you can create the conditions for excellent research. Translation is more complex. When moving towards a therapy or commercial application, success becomes increasingly dependent on factors outside one’s control, from access to capital and a mature and stable regulatory framework to manufacturing capabilities, clinical partners, industry competence, and timing.
This means that the surrounding ecosystem becomes enormously important. To translate excellent science into something that ultimately benefits patients, we need environments where academia, healthcare, industry, investors, and innovation support structures can work together and where promising discoveries can access the right expertise and resources at the right time.
Where do you see companies like NorthX Biologics having a real competitive edge compared to larger players in the industry?
I think the competitive edge is agility and the ability to engage and work closely with customers early during development. This is particularly powerful for emerging therapeutic modalities, where established solutions may not yet exist, and development requires flexibility, scientific understanding, and close collaboration. A company like NorthX Biologics can combine that agility with the expertise and quality required for advanced manufacturing.
What do you see as most important for companies when choosing a CDMO partner today?
Trust, expertise, and flexibility are key. Particularly for emerging modalities, companies need a CDMO that acts as a true partner, understanding the product, solving problems together, and adapting as the project develops.
Looking ahead, what do you believe will be most important for companies like NorthX Biologics to succeed in the coming years?
It is easier said than done, but I think it will be important to combine technological leadership with long-term financial resilience. Building strategic, long-term partnerships with established companies can provide the stability needed during periods of market uncertainty, while maintaining the ability to support emerging biotech and support the next generation of therapies.
