Dr. James Ryall brings nearly 25 years of extensive experience in the biotech sector, including 19 years as a research academic and over four years as the Chief Scientist at Vow, a pioneering cultured meat company in Sydney, NSW. Dr Ryall continues to provide support to the cultured meat and cellular agriculture industries through his role as an advisory board member at Cellular Agriculture Australia. He now leverages his deep expertise as a strategic advisor startups and scaleups, specializing in biomanufacturing.

As a research academic at The University of Melbourne and the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Ryall authored over 50 peer-reviewed research articles on stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, and skeletal muscle physiology. Although he is perhaps best known for his discovery linking metabolism to skeletal muscle stem cell fate.

As a sought-after speaker, Dr. Ryall has presented at numerous international conferences, including a recent TEDx talk in Melbourne, where he shared insights on cultured meat and why the world needs alternative protein sources. He has also been featured on various podcasts and TV shows, including CNN and Good Morning Britain.

Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Ryall has received numerous awards and fellowships, notably the AK McIntyre Award from the Australian Physiological Society for his outstanding contributions to physiology. He continues to contribute to academic research as an Honorary Research Fellow at The University of Melbourne.

Dr. Ryall excels in bridging the gap between science and business, uniquely positioning him to support founders and leaders from early-stage startups to SMEs. His mission is to partner with visionary founders and executive teams, using a team-first approach to transform groundbreaking ideas into tangible products that redefine markets.

Where science and business collide

Expertise

Deep Technical Expertise

  • Four years as Chief Scientist at one of the worlds leading cultured meat companies (Vow).

  • A PhD in physiology and over 20yrs experience in cell biology, metabolism, and regenerative medicine.

  • Author on >50 research articles

  • Internationally recognized speaker

  • Inventor on several patents

Experienced Fundraiser

  • Helped secure >USD$55M in private equity

  • Successfully raised >USD$3M in non-dilutive (grant) funding

  • Previous holder of several prestigious Australian fellowships

Team Building & Mentoring

  • Oversaw hiring of 25+ scientists for Vow

  • Established a successful “junior research scientist” intern program

  • Supervisor and mentor to over 20 PhD, Masters and undergraduate students

  • Previous mentor at “Startmate”, Australia’s leading accelerator program

Partnership Management

  • Successful development and execution of commercially driven partnership strategies

  • Strong history of negotiation with academic, governmental and industrial partners for mutual benefit