EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 13, 2025--
Prolific Machines, a biotechnology company using light to control biology, announces the appointment of Christina Perry to its expert team. Christina Perry joins Prolific as CFO where she will be charged with scaling Prolific’s growth and financial systems as it continues to focus on expanding its commercial reach. Perry will also leverage her deep pharmaceutical and CDMO expertise to help Prolific achieve its ambitious business goals.
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Prolific Machines is advancing the developability of protein therapeutics. Its Photomolecular platform brings together patented optogenetic tools and proprietary closed-loop capabilities to unlock direct and dynamic control over any cellular function in any cell type. The Bay Area company enables biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies of all stages to solve complex protein challenges; light-enabled gene expression control enables the production of difficult to produce therapeutics by maximizing titer and improving protein quality consistency. Light-enabled receptor control drives cost reduction and shortens run times in antibody therapeutics through growth factor elimination.
"We’re building a new toolkit to control biology that offers biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies unprecedented control over their processes. As we prepare to announce even more opportunities to leverage our technology in the coming months, we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Christina to Prolific as our CFO,” said Deniz Kent, PhD, Prolific Machines’ Co-Founder & CEO. “Her deep biopharmaceutical expertise and acumen for developing winning businesses will be paramount to our path forward as we prepare to share more exciting news in the months ahead.”
Prior to joining Prolific, Perry spent the past four years with Forge Biologics, a viral vector gene therapy manufacturing and development company with the dual platform of CDMO capabilities and the development of proprietary gene therapy products. Here, she built and scaled Forge’s finance, accounting, and investor relations functions from the time of its Series A financing through one year post strategic acquisition by Ajinomoto Co., in 2023. During her time at Forge Biologics, the company raised over $300M in financings and scaled their business operations to support growth from seven to 350 employees. Perry has deep expertise managing complex entity legal structures and has had extensive experience in equity and debt financings. Over the last 15 years, she has worked with public and private companies and startups across varying industries, developing operational processes to scale with high growth. Perry spent the onset of her career at Deloitte as a CPA, earned her BBA at the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Accountancy from Miami University. She was also named a Woman of Influence by Columbus Business First in 2023.
“I have dedicated my career to building winning propositions through leading strategic fundraising, operational programs, and driving business growth,” said Christina Perry, Prolific Machines’ CFO. “When this opportunity came along, it so perfectly married my biopharmaceutical expertise and passion, and I couldn’t be more excited to help Prolific achieve its mission and business goals.”
This leadership team addition further accelerates Prolific’s momentum and positive impact potential across biopharmaceuticals and advanced nutrition. Learn more about Prolific Machines’ technology and capabilities at prolific-machines.com, and contact partners@prolific-machines.com to explore partnership opportunities.
About Prolific Machines
Prolific Machines is ushering in a new era of biotechnology using light. Founded in 2020, the Bay Area company is widening the developability of protein therapeutics, using optogenetics to unlock unprecedented cellular control. Prolific’s Photomolecular platform brings together patented optogenetics tools and proprietary closed-loop control capabilities to unlock game changing solutions across difficult to produce proteins and antibody therapeutics. The company is accelerating the future of biology with innovators across biopharmaceuticals and advanced nutrition to create a healthier, more sustainable tomorrow and is supported by leading investors, including Ki Tua Fund, the corporate venture arm of the Fonterra Co-operative Group; Breakthrough Energy Ventures; Mayfield; SOSV; In-Q-Tel; and others. Visit prolific-machines.com to learn more, and contact partners@prolific-machines.com to inquire about co-developing the future of biology.
Christina Perry joins Prolific Machines as CFO after helping to scale Forge Biologics, a leading cell and gene therapy pharmaceutical company and CDMO, and leading its successful acquisition by the Ajinomoto Co. (Photo: Business Wire)
The United States is back in action on Friday at the World Cup against Australia, exactly one week after a stellar performance in its opener that sent expectations for the squad soaring.
Meanwhile, Brazil gets a second chance to look like one of the favorites against Haiti.
It remains to be seen how much help the Americans will get from star forward Christian Pulisic in front of what's expected to be an electric crowd in Seattle. Pulisic has a sore left calf and has been working out separately from the team.
Brazil will try to improve following a lackluster 1-1 draw against Morocco last week. The Brazilians are five-time World Cup champions, but haven't won a title since 2002.
Also on Friday, Scotland faces Morocco and Turkey takes on Paraguay.
— United States vs. Australia, 3 p.m. EDT in Seattle (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)
— Scotland vs. Morocco, 6 p.m. EDT in Foxborough, Massachusetts (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)
— Brazil vs. Haiti, 8:30 p.m. EDT in Philadelphia (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)
— Turkey vs. Paraguay, 11 p.m. EDT in Santa Clara, California (FS1/Telemundo/Peacock)
The Americans are looking for a suitable encore after one of the country's best performances on a World Cup stage. Folarin Balogun scored two goals while Gio Reyna added another in a 4-1 win over Paraguay that exceeded most fans' expectations.
Pulisic was often the catalyst while the U.S. scored three goals in the first half, but he came off at halftime after feeling stiffness from a calf injury incurred in training. The Milan winger joined his U.S. teammates for a pre-warmup huddle Thursday while wearing a compression sleeve on his calf, then went inside to do individual work in the gym.
Midfielder Weston McKennie said he did not know much about Pulisic’s recovery, but that he hopes he will be able to play.
“I know he really wants to be in, and he’s doing everything that he can, and the staff is doing everything that they can as well,” McKennie said. “But, that’s also another question that’s better to ask him than me.”
Australia also has momentum after its impressive 2-0 win over Turkey. Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe scored for the Socceroos, who are playing in their sixth straight World Cup and seventh overall.
Morocco has been an ascending soccer power, particularly after a run to the semifinals in the 2022 World Cup. The team has improved so much that its 1-1 draw against powerhouse Brazil was a slight disappointment.
“We didn’t come to the U.S. to just play against Brazil,” Morocco midfielder Azzedine Ounahi said. “We came in to go even farther than we did in Qatar in 2022.”
Scotland has put itself in good position to advance to the knockout round for the first time after a 1-0 win over Haiti in its opener, but Morocco should be a considerably tougher opponent.
“Against difficult opponents we have to be very good," Scotland coach Steve Clarke said. "We’re a little more comfortable as underdogs. ... Sometimes Scotland prefers it that way.”
The Brazilians were outplayed early before Vinícius Júnior’s 32nd-minute goal helped them rally for a draw against Morocco. Coach Carlo Ancelotti said through an interpreter that the team was “a bit anxious at the beginning. Nerves were all over the place.”
Brazil should have a big talent advantage over Haiti, even with star Neymar ruled out because of a calf injury. The Brazilians will be under pressure to secure a lopsided win after the uninspiring performance against Morocco.
For many Haitian fans, there were mixed emotions in a country that has long had a soft spot for Brazil's soccer team.
Turkey and Paraguay are both in need of a win as they try to escape the Group D basement.
Not surprisingly, Paraguay's fans weren't happy with the team's lopsided loss to the United States. Mauricio scored Paraguay's lone goal against the Americans and the team hopes he'll be able to deliver again.
Turkey is in the World Cup for the first time in 24 years. The team maintained 72% of possession against Australia and outshot the Socceroos 30-9, but couldn’t manage to score.
— Ivory Coast says striker Elye Wahi will be allowed into Canada for the team’s next World Cup match
— Inside the colorful, compelling and controversial jersey designs at the World Cup
— World Cup formations, explained: A look at how coaches are setting up their squads
— Brazilian soccer fans at the World Cup heed warning not to dress Rocky statue in team gear
— Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos
— All five goals in Thursday's Switzerland vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina game were scored in the 74th minute or after.
AP Sports Writers Kyle Hightower and Andrew Destin contributed to this report.
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
A Bosnia's fan cheers prior to a World Cup Group B soccer match against Switzerland in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Switzerland's Johan Manzambi, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal against Bosnia during the World Cup Group B soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
South Africa's Teboho Mokoena celebrates after scoring a penalty, his side's first goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Fans of Brazil chant as their team arrives in Philadelphia ahead of the World Cup group C soccer match, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
United States' Sergino Dest addresses the media during a training session ahead of the team's World Cup Group D soccer match against Australia in Seattle, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
