About us

Founded by Professor James McInerney, Pangenome AI was born from decades of pioneering research in evolutionary biology and the recognition that four billion years of natural experiments in genetic recombination and selection hold the keys to addressing antibiotic resistance, renewable energy needs, and synthetic biology innovation.

Our Large Pangenome Models process millions of genomes, extracting evolutionary wisdom that took nature billions of years to encode. Our breakthrough came through sophisticated bioinformatic tools that can decode pangenomes — the complete collection of genes found across a species. By applying transformer architectures and attention mechanisms to these vast genomic datasets, we have unlocked the ability to predict which genetic combinations work harmoniously together and which create incompatibilities.

Professor James O. McInerney PhD DSc

Founder & Chief Scientific Officer

Professor McInerney has published over 130 peer-reviewed papers in top-tier journals including Nature, Science, and PNAS, with his work cited extensively across the fields of genomics, evolution, and bioinformatics. His research has been supported by over €40 million in funding from major agencies including the Wellcome Trust, BBSRC, and Science Foundation Ireland.

He brings over 25 years of pioneering research in evolutionary genomics and computational biology. His career includes:

• Past President of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (2022) — leading the world’s premier evolutionary biology society with 5,000+ members globally.
• Chair in Evolutionary Biology at the University of Liverpool, with prior senior appointments at the Universities of Nottingham and Manchester.
• Head of the School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham (2018–2022) — overseeing a £200M budget at one of the UK’s largest life sciences schools.
• Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology — elected to this prestigious academy of 2,000 microbiologists worldwide.
• Fellow of the European Academy of Microbiology — recognising sustained contributions to microbiological research in Europe.
• Visiting Professor, Harvard School of Public Health — collaborating with leading researchers in computational biology.

Our mission

We believe that understanding the fundamental rules governing genetic compatibility will revolutionise how we approach biotechnology challenges. Our mission is to:

• Decode nature’s blueprints. Unlock the genetic rules written in four billion years of evolutionary history.
• Accelerate innovation. Reduce the time and cost of genetic engineering through predictive intelligence.
• Address global challenges. Apply our insights to combat antibiotic resistance, develop sustainable energy solutions, and create next-generation biotechnology products.
• Democratise access. Make sophisticated genomic analysis tools accessible to researchers and innovators worldwide.

Our technology approach

Large Pangenome Models (LPMs)

Our core innovation lies in developing Large Pangenome Models that harness the power of transformer architectures — the same technology behind breakthrough AI systems — to understand genomic relationships. These models analyse the complete genetic repertoire across species to identify:

• Genetic compatibility rules — which gene combinations work harmoniously together.
• Evolutionary constraints — natural limitations that govern successful genetic partnerships.
• Predictive patterns — anticipating how genetic modifications will behave in different contexts.

Transformer-based analysis

By applying attention mechanisms from advanced AI to biological data, our models can:

• Process vast genomic datasets with unprecedented efficiency.
• Identify hidden relationships between genetic elements.
• Predict outcomes of genetic modifications before experimental validation.
• Generate testable hypotheses for practical applications.

Precision genomic engineering

Our approach enables precision engineering of microbial communities by:

• Identifying optimal gene combinations for specific functions.
• Anticipating emerging antimicrobial resistance patterns before they appear clinically.
• Accelerating synthetic biology development with compatibility roadmaps.
• Reducing experimental trial-and-error through predictive modelling.

Proudly based in England’s Northern Powerhouse

Our location places us at the heart of the UK’s thriving biotechnology corridor, with access to world-class universities, cutting-edge research facilities, and a vibrant ecosystem of life sciences companies and investors. We maintain active collaborations with leading academic and international institutions, reflecting our commitment to contributing to the UK’s position as a global leader in biotechnology innovation. Our work is supported by funding bodies including the BBSRC and the Leverhulme Trust, and has historically involved partnerships with Harvard University and institutions across Europe and Brazil.

Milestones

• 2024 — Founded Pangenome AI with breakthrough panGPT technology.
• 2024 — Secured BBSRC “Pioneers” grant for experimental validation (£199,243).
• 2024 — Published PNAS paper demonstrating predictable patterns in pangenome evolution.
• 2023 — Developed panGPT — the first GPT-style model trained on pangenome data.
• 2021 — Established Random Forest modelling approach for prokaryotic pangenomes.