CellTellus: Rewriting the Script on Ageing Diseases
As global life expectancy rises, so too does the prevalence of complex, age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration, conditions that profoundly impact quality of life, and for which there are still no cures. Despite decades of research, scientists have struggled to translate lab findings into meaningful treatments. One major reason? The human biology these diseases affect is poorly reflected in the models traditionally used to study them.
CellTellus, a Melbourne-based biotech startup is harnessing the power of stem cell models and precision genomics to fundamentally change how we study and treat complex diseases.
Professor Alice Pebay - Co-founder of CellTellus
Why complex diseases remain unsolved
Most people who live into old age will eventually be affected by a complex disease. Conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, autoimmune disorders and degenerative eye diseases unfold gradually, shaped by a web of genetic, environmental and age-related factors.
Yet our ability to study them remains limited. Scientists have relied on animal models for decades, even when those animals don’t share key aspects of human biology. In age-related macular degeneration research, for example, mice are often used despite lacking a macula themselves.
The result is a disconnect between lab discoveries and real-world treatments.
“This is a huge part of why we’ve failed to develop effective treatments,” says Professor Alice Pébay, stem cell biologist and co-founder of CellTellus. “We’ve been studying these diseases with the wrong tools.”
CellTellus flips the script. Using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, a breakthrough technique pioneered by Nobel Laureate Shinya Yamanaka, Pébay and her team take a person’s skin or blood cells and rewind them to an embryonic-like state. These iPSCs can then be turned into specific cell types affected by disease, such as brain cells or retinal cells, allowing researchers to study conditions in the context of a person’s own biology.
This approach doesn’t just improve precision. It represents a major shift in how we understand disease and opens the door to personalised therapies.
From academic insight to real-world impact
At its heart, CellTellus is built on a powerful idea: if we can model disease more accurately, we can intervene earlier and more effectively. By combining patient-specific stem cell models with high-resolution genomic analysis, the team can pinpoint subtle molecular changes that occur before symptoms arise.
These insights may help unlock a new generation of precision treatments, including RNA therapies, an emerging class of drugs that work by correcting disease at the genetic level.
“In the future, we believe RNA therapies will offer a new class of targeted, effective treatments,” says Pébay. “But to get there, we need a sustainable model. That’s why we’re also offering our technology as a service.”
Their offering includes helping pharmaceutical companies and research groups build disease models, run high-throughput drug screens, and use CellTellus’ models for preclinical testing. This dual focus, service and product, aims to generate early revenue while building the foundation for future therapeutic breakthroughs.
But for Pébay, the mission is deeply personal. “I want my work to help people live better as they age,” she says. “This is about making the science count.”
A team built on trust and bold thinking
CellTellus is led by three researchers who have worked together for over a decade, bringing world-class expertise in stem cells, genetics, clinical care and computation.
Professor Alex Hewitt (University of Tasmania and Centre for Eye Research Australia), Chief Medical Officer is a clinician-scientist with deep expertise in ocular genetics and a strong track record in translational research and biotech entrepreneurship. He brings critical insight into clinical applicability and trial readiness.
Professor Alice Pébay AM (Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences), Chief Operating Officer, is a globally recognised stem cell researcher with a background in neuroscience. She has 25 years of experience modelling neurodegeneration using human pluripotent stem cells and driving innovation in patient-specific cell-based platforms.
Professor Joseph Powell (Garvan Institute of Medical Research), Chief Executive Officer is a computational geneticist and mathematician whose research shapes how we study and interpret complex genomic data. His methods enable the discovery of subtle clinically relevant genetic signals and drive the analytical backbone of the CellTellus platform.
Together, the founders combine complementary strengths in cell biology, data science, and clinical translation. Their strength lies not just in their credentials, but in their collaboration. “We’ve grown together, scientifically and now commercially,” says Pébay. “We trust each other. That’s a big part of what makes this work.”
That trust was critical when the team first proposed using stem cells to study diseases of ageing an idea many experts initially dismissed. “People thought it was ridiculous,” Pébay recalls. “How could you study late-onset diseases using ‘young’ stem cells? But we were stubborn. We spent ten years proving that our models reveal real insights. And they do.”
Gaining traction and building momentum
Since officially forming in 2024, CellTellus has achieved several key early milestones. The team secured its first commercial service contract, validating their business model and generating early revenue. As part of the 2025 TRAM Air cohort, they’re receiving targeted support in commercialisation and business development as they continue to refine their strategy and engage with potential customers.
This kind of traction is rare in early-stage biotech and is helping lay the foundation for larger ambitions. Over the next 12 to 24 months, the team plans to launch its internal R&D drug discovery pipeline, secure permanent lab space, hire key staff, and raise investment to scale.
With early partnerships in place and a scalable vision, the company is positioning itself to serve both research and therapeutic markets.
“Our goal is to show the world that we can find better ways to treat complex disease,” says Pébay. “And we’re just getting started.”
How TRAM helped shift the mindset
Pébay credits TRAM Air with helping her shift from academic to founder. “The biggest challenge has been learning how to communicate differently,” she says. “In academia, we often speak in our own jargon. In business, you have to explain value, clearly, simply, and in a way that resonates.”
Professor Alice Pebay - TRAM program space
She also sees commercialisation as a responsibility. “If we want to make the world better, we have to be at the table where big decisions are being made,” she says. “As scientists, we bring a different perspective, one grounded in evidence, ethics and long-term thinking. We need people with good intent in those rooms, helping steer innovation in the right direction.”
In that sense, CellTellus isn’t just a company, it reflects a belief that scientists and researchers can play a vital role in shaping a healthier, more equitable future.
Read more about the 2025 TRAM Air cohort
Get in touch with Masha to learn more about TRAM Air: masha.pelipas@unimelb.edu.au