Fast Company Magazine
AI is learning which genes drive disease, while tiny human organ models are changing how drugs get tested.
These innovations of 2026 could have a particularly broad impact
Author: Ross Rubin
Some innovations have potential beyond the bounds of a single industry. These honorees include a company that is combining AI and advanced genetic life science to better track disease pathology, and another developing models that could help avoid animal testing by simulating human organ functions.
Algen Biotechnologies
For blending genetics and AI to advance pathology
One of the most promising health applications for AI is earlier identification of genes that can be targeted by therapies to reverse disease processes. Spun out of Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna’s lab, Algen is the creator of AlgenBrain. It uses CRISPR and AI to better understand disease biology and accelerate next-generation approaches. The system maps causal links between gene regulation and disease progression, going beyond data analysis to generate solutions. The company recently announced a $555 million partnership with AstraZeneca to develop AI-powered drug discovery, giving Algen access to the pharmaceutical giant’s immunology pipeline.
Emulate
For developing human organ simulators that can supplant animal testing
Organ-on-a-Chip technology from Emulate uses microfluidic devices containing human cells to replicate key aspects of human organ functions. That offers more relevant data for modeling—for example, drug reactions—than traditional 2D cell culture models. Emulate’s next-generation platform focuses on scalability, attacking the high-cost and labor-intensive workflows that its first systems required. The company’s Human Liver Chip is in the final stages of the FDA’s ISTAND qualification program, which could enable it to partially replace animal testing in regulatory submissions for pharmaceuticals.
Credits: TCA, LLC.