We're delighted to share that Robinson PhD graduate Dr Jin Seok Lee is a finalist in the Postdoc Venture Creation Challenge 2026.

The PVCC is a competition designed to help University of Cambridge postdocs take their first steps in transforming research into ventures with a societal impact. In its tenth edition, this year’s finalists have just been revealed by IE Cambridge, the University’s central hub of innovation and entrepreneurship support. The seven finalist teams will go on to compete at the Grand Finale on 12 November at Jesus College. 

Jin's Team are CardiOn Therapeutics’: mRNA-based regenerative therapy stimulates significant proliferation of adult heart cells – a breakthrough previously considered unattainable. With validated in vivo proof-of-concept, their approach provides a scalable, non-surgical solution to re-muscularise failing hearts and restore functional capacity to millions of patients.

Team: Jin Seok Lee (lead) and Catherine Wilson
Department/affiliation: Department of Pharmacology; The Gurdon Institute

Best of luck Jin!

Photo: The 2026 Postdoc Venture Creation Challenge (PVCC) finalists and programme team outside the Hauser Forum. Credit: David Johnson