Co-founders A.J. Mellott (Ph.D., Bio-OS architect) and Heather Decker (systems engineer) are joined by an experienced leadership team and advisors from the FDA, biotech strategy, and industry. The team combines scientific depth with operational experience in scaling complex technologies.
Most cell culture tools were not designed for human biology. They were built for microbes, not for the thousands of specialized cells that form our bodies. As a tissue engineer, Dr. A.J. Mellott experienced this mismatch firsthand. Stem cells were wearing out, losing identity, and drifting from their natural purpose.
He imagined a better way. Together with chemist and microscopist Heather Decker, they developed modular hydrogels that recreate real tissue environments and allow cells to grow continuously while preserving function. In 2019, they founded Ronawk to help scientists bring advanced therapies to patients faster.
Their first innovation, Bio-Blocks®, quickly evolved into Bio-OS, a biological operating system built around three integrated layers: modular hardware, standardized software, and living wetware. Bio-OS furnishes cells the right environment, provides researchers predictable outcomes, and presents manufacturers a clear path from discovery to scale.
Ronawk exists to let biology be biology, and to empower innovators building the next generation of therapies.
To give biology the environment it deserves so innovators can create lifesaving therapies with precision, speed, and impact.
A future where biology can grow on its own terms, unlocking breakthroughs once thought impossible and transforming the way the world heals.
To unite science, imagination, and human compassion to create technologies that accelerate discovery and expand what is possible for humanity.
We push boundaries and empower one another to imagine new possibilities, take bold steps, and create a better tomorrow through science and collaboration.
We hold ourselves to the highest standard of honesty and accountability, doing right by our team, our partners, and the communities we serve.
We learn, iterate, and rise stronger from every challenge. Each obstacle becomes an opportunity to refine our ideas and elevate our impact.
We face adversity with clarity and resolve. By challenging assumptions and charting new paths, we build the strength to shift paradigms.
We create together, solve together, and celebrate together. Our diverse perspectives unite into a shared purpose: unlocking what is possible when we stand as one.
We seek new questions, embrace curiosity, and nurture the imagination that drives discovery. Growth comes from exploring what others have yet to consider.
