Galatea takes $25 million to chart new genetic territory

US genomics firm Galatea Bio has raised $25 million in funding to expand its global biobank and accelerate the development of AI-powered tools for drug discovery and disease risk prediction, with a particular focus on populations historically left out of genomic research.

The Miami-based startup plans to scale up its existing Biobank of the Americas into a broader initiative, the Galatea Global Biobank, aiming to collect genetic data from 10 million people. A significant portion of these will come from communities in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, with the goal of closing longstanding representation gaps in human genetics research.

Founded in 2021, Galatea Bio is led by Carlos Bustamante, a population geneticist and Stanford faculty member. The company operates a high-complexity laboratory accredited by the College of American Pathologists, offering genetic testing services and storing samples collected through hospital partnerships.