Ailis Tweed-kent

Biography

Dr. Ailis Tweed-Kent is an up-and-coming entrepreneur and leader in the development of innovative medical technologies. With her education in medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and residency in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Ailis has first hand knowledge of the burden of disease. In 2013, Ailis was inspired by her patients to found Cocoon to develop innovative silk therapeutics for osteoarthritis. Prior to Cocoon, she worked on the design, development, and delivery of diagnostic technologies for global health collaborating with organizations such as PEPFAR/Office of U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and the Global Health Delivery Project. She brings a multidisciplinary approach with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. 

Research Interest

Cocoon Biotech is developing a drug-delivery platform based on formulations of fibroin, a protein derived from the cocoon of the silk worm (Bombyx mori). Silk fibroin is a biocompatible protein that has been used for decades as a suture material; however, recent advances in our understanding of fibroin biochemistry has allowed expansion of the versatility of the material into alternate physical formats such as spheres and hydrogels loaded with active drug substances.