Luca Hategan, co-founder of Re:Pair Genomics, exemplifies the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and perseverance. A University of Toronto graduate currently pursuing his PhD, Luca led his startup to extraordinary success in the Hult Prize 2024 competition. His team's journey began right here on campus with a victory at the 2024 Hult Prize OnCampus competition at U of T, propelling him to the prestigious Hult Prize Summits in Mexico.
Building on the momentum of Re:Pair Genomics as well as the success of fellow U of T competitor Xatoms, who reached the top 6 in the Hult Prize Global Finals, the highly anticipated 2025 Hult Prize OnCampus competition returns to U of T this February. This exciting tri-campus opportunity empowers undergraduate entrepreneurial teams to follow in their footsteps and compete for the coveted $1 million USD in seed funding.
The Spark Behind the Idea
Luca’s passion for biotechnology ignited during his undergraduate years in U of T’s Hampson lab. Here, he witnessed the transformative potential of gene therapies for conditions like Fragile X Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome. Unlike conventional drugs that manage symptoms, gene therapies offered the promise of a cure. However, a major hurdle remained: off-target expression of therapeutic genes. Imagine a medicine that's supposed to treat your heart but accidentally affects your brain too. That's what off-target expression is, and it can cause unwanted side effects.
This challenge became the cornerstone of Re:Pair Genomics. Inspired by research successes in the lab, Luca and his team envisioned a way to create cell-type-specific expression vectors using a proprietary machine learning approach. These vectors could precisely target affected tissues while minimizing side effects, marking a significant leap forward in gene therapy technology.
Building Re:Pair Genomics
Re:Pair Genomics addresses one of the most pressing challenges in gene therapy: ensuring that therapeutic genes are expressed only where needed. Traditional vectors often rely on generic promoters that work across many cell types but lack specificity, leading to unwanted off-target effects. These aspects of non-specificity are circumvented usually through invasive surgeries to limit the spread of the treatment to other organ systems.
Luca's team uses machine learning to design highly specific 'promoters' – like tiny delivery trucks that ensure gene therapies reach the exact cells they need to treat. This improves accuracy and reduces side effects.
Luca credits part of Re:Pair Genomics’ success to his experiences at U of T. The university’s robust ecosystem—from undergraduate research opportunities to incubators like H2i, The Hatchery, and Medicine by Design—provided crucial support. Collaborative environments and resources allowed Luca to connect with like-minded peers and develop his entrepreneurial skills.
The Hult Prize Experience
The Hult Prize proved pivotal for Re:Pair Genomics. The competition forced them to clearly communicate their complex science, ultimately sharpening their pitch and expanding their understanding of the market. This led to remarkable success, with the team placing second in the OnCampus competition and advancing to the Summit stage in Monterrey, Mexico, where they gained invaluable networking opportunities.
“I had no business knowledge or experience, no one on our team really did, we're all scientists, and I can say that the skills we developed participating in the competition have been extremely important in your professional development.”
Lessons and Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
For students considering the Hult Prize or similar competitions, Luca’s advice is simple: “Just do it.” He emphasizes that these opportunities are not just for seasoned entrepreneurs; they are invaluable for honing skills, testing ideas, and building confidence.
Luca shares, “I had no business knowledge or experience, no one on our team really did, we're all scientists, and I can say that the skills we developed participating in the competition have been extremely important in your professional development.”
“No one knows your idea, technology, product or startup as well as you do,” Luca explains. He expresses that the key is getting the audience to understand and believe in your vision.
Luca’s journey serves as a testament to what’s possible with determination, collaboration, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone. For U of T students with bold ideas, the 2025 Hult Prize OnCampus competition at U of T offers a chance to bring them to life. Surrounded by a supportive ecosystem and with access to U of T's wealth of entrepreneurial resources, students have the power to make a lasting impact on the world—just as Luca and Re:Pair Genomics are doing.
-
Feeling inspired? Learn more and register for the 2025 Hult Prize OnCampus competition at U of T.