Professor Michael Rossbach
Michael Rossbach, Ph.D. is a seasoned life and health sciences professional, with expertise in immunology, cell-based therapeutics, neuroscience, and genomics. As a distinguished scientist, entrepreneur, and investor, Michael has forged a remarkable career at the nexus of cutting-edge biotechnology research and global commercial innovation.
As Founder and Managing Partner of Ikxinta, Michael helps biotechnology companies navigate complex global markets, forging partnerships that turn ideas into impact. His extensive involvement across the life sciences ecosystem encompasses leadership roles in venture capital, strategic advisory, and board governance. Since November 2023, he has served as Managing Partner at Roßbach & Company, while simultaneously contributing strategic and operational business consulting expertise as a partner with GlobalClose Alliances since February 2023. His venture capital engagement includes a Venture Partner role at Eckuity Capital, assumed in January 2024.
His scientific leadership extends across numerous organizations where he provides strategic guidance. He currently serves as Scientific Advisor to both Elivity and Global Cancer Technology, positions he has held since January 2024 and October 2022, respectively. His board leadership includes chairing the Industry and Scientific Advisory Board at PIRCHE and serving on the Scientific Advisory Boards of both Vaccentis AG and Sanara Ventures, the latter being a role he has maintained since January 2020.
Recognition of Michael’s expertise reached a new milestone in December 2021 when Michael was named to the Scientific and Medical Advisory Board of BryoLogyx. "Drs. Levy, Rossbach, and Grossman are distinguished scientific thought leaders in immunology," noted Thomas Loarie, cofounder and CEO of BryoLogyx. His appointment came at a critical juncture as the company prepared to evaluate bryostatin-1’s potential to overcome immuno-oncology resistance mechanisms, one of the most pressing challenges in modern cancer therapy. Read BryoLogyx Announces Additions to Board of Directors and Scientific and Medical Advisory Board.
These recent appointments build upon his longstanding partnerships, including his role as Partner at Höppner Life Sciences Management since July 2022 and his position as Associate at Biotech Développement Conseils, which he has held since January 2012. This portfolio of engagements demonstrates Michael’s ability to synthesize scientific innovation, strategic business development, and investment expertise across the global life sciences landscape.
Michael’s entrepreneurial vision is exemplified through Ikxinta, a global consultancy he cofounded in 2018 with Dr. Pablo Lizana Allende in the Basque region of Spain. Rooted in a science-driven mindset, Ikxinta collaborates with scientists, industry innovators, and investors to propel clients toward breakthroughs in life sciences, establishing itself as a cornerstone for biotechnology companies navigating complex international markets and forging strategic partnerships across continents, including the USA, Portugal, Germany, Singapore, and China. Read Ikxinta – At the Forefront of Thriving Biotech Innovation.
Ikxinta plays a pivotal role in strengthening the growing Spanish biotech sector. This expansion has governmental support in the form of funding, innovation initiatives, and a commitment to academic excellence, with major research institutions like the Spanish National Research Council, The Institute for Health Carlos III in Madrid, and The University of the Basque Country driving significant advancements. Ikxinta bridges these research powerhouses with partners in academia, clinics, and the biopharmaceutical industry, transforming cutting-edge research into practical clinical solutions.
The firm’s work centers on some of the most promising frontiers in science, including genomics, cell-based therapeutics, drug discovery, biomedical informatics, and medical devices. Leveraging accelerators and venture capital, Ikxinta guides these projects from laboratory concepts to global markets.
With a diverse team of consultants, entrepreneurs, investors, and scientists spanning Portugal, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, and Singapore, Ikxinta takes a hands-on approach to its mission. The firm actively nurtures unique collaborations, introduces emerging technologies to the market, and builds new ventures, amplifying its global influence in the life sciences sector.
Michael’s international impact on biotechnology was particularly shown during his tenure as Head (2011 – 2015) and later Assistant Director (April – December 2015) of Strategic Alliances at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS). At GIS, one of Asia’s flagship genomics research centers, he played a key role accelerating the translation of genomic discoveries into clinical applications, positioning Singapore as a global hub for precision medicine innovation.
Michael maintains an influential academic presence across multiple prestigious institutions globally, currently serving as a Member of the Faculty/Professor at the Witten School of Management in Germany and as a Lecturer at the Technical University of Munich’s Singapore campus (TUM Asia). He has also held faculty positions at the National University of Singapore and has served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at INSEAD’s campus in Singapore. His scientific expertise has earned him election to the Scientific Council of the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, a prominent research facility within the Helmholtz Association, where his interdisciplinary background enables him to effectively connect cutting-edge physics research with life sciences innovations, thereby contributing valuable strategic guidance to one of Germany’s foremost scientific institutions.
Michael’s educational odyssey spans three continents and involves rigorous training at the world’s leading educational and research institutions. Michael earned a post-graduate diploma in biochemistry from the University of Witten/Herdecke, which he obtained before completing his doctorate in immunology at Harvard Medical School in collaboration with the University of Witten/Herdecke, supported by a scholarship from the German National Academic Foundation.
Michael would then serve as a post-doctoral fellow at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), before later going on to become Head of the institute in 2011. This extraordinary academic journey equipped him with a uniquely global perspective on biological challenges and their solutions.
At the heart of his scientific pursuits lies a fascination with the molecular mechanisms of life. His scientific interest lies in complex gene regulation (particularly in non-coding RNAs), stem cell / regenerative biology, and in tumor-immunobiology. Michael’s research has further illuminated how non-coding RNAs orchestrate gene expression.
The applications for discoveries in this area are huge, potentially opening new therapeutic avenues in cancer treatment and regenerative medicine. His publication An Economic Perspective on Personalized Medicine exemplifies his ability to ground and evaluate scientific innovation within the practical constraints of healthcare economics, addressing both the transformative potential and implementation challenges of genomics-based medicine. Read Non-Coding RNAs in Neural Networks, REST-Assured.
Michael exemplifies the modern biotechnology leader who seamlessly integrates scientific rigor with strategic vision and global connectivity. His pioneering work at the intersection of immunology, diagnostics, and business development continues to accelerate the journey from laboratory discoveries to life-saving therapies.
As biotechnology enters an unprecedented era of possibilities in cell therapy, gene editing, and personalized medicine, leaders like Michael ensure that scientific breakthroughs reach the patients who need them most, while building the infrastructure and partnerships necessary for sustainable innovation.
Watch An Economics View on Personalized Healthcare.
Read: An Economic Perspective on Personalized Medicine, A Comment on Pluripotent Stem Cells in Next-Generation Biomedical Theranostics, Non-Coding RNAs in Neural Networks, Recent Progress in Cancer Therapeutics, Ikxinta – At the Forefront of Thriving Biotech Innovation, and BryoLogyx Announces Additions to Board of Directors and Scientific and Medical Advisory Board.
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn and X to follow his work in biotechnology innovation and global health sciences strategy. Follow his Academia.edu page to explore and stay up-to-date on his groundbreaking research.