# Helena Mancebo

> Helena Mancebo is the founder and CEO of Multispan, Inc., a Hayward, California biotech she has run for more than 20 years. She built a company around G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) - still among the most prolific class of drug targets - and grew it into a maker of the industry's largest collection of highly characterized human GPCR cell lines and 1,600-plus assay tools. A Yale-trained immunologist and geneticist, she pairs hard cell biology with a service obsession: next-day assay turnaround, native receptor pharmacology, and a culture built on empathy, integrity, and productivity. In 2023 Multispan's cell engineering and assay services were folded into Avantor's catalog; in 2025 she partnered with AI-automation firm Synfini to push GPCR drug discovery forward.

- **Role:** Founder, CEO & President at Multispan, Inc.
- **Organizations:** Multispan, Inc., Santa Clara University (Bioengineering Advisory Board), BayBio FAST Program, BioGENEius Challenge
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Ph.D. in Immunology and Genetics, Yale University
- **Known for:** Founded and has led Multispan, Inc. for 20+ years as a profitable, focused GPCR specialist., Built the industry's largest collection of highly characterized human GPCR clones and GPCR-expressing stable cell lines, including the proprietary HEx high-expression series., Developed 1,000+ clonal stable cell lines and offers 1,600+ assay tools.

## Career timeline

- **1996** — Earns Ph.D. in Immunology and Genetics from Yale University.
- **pre-2004** — Holds principal/scientist and business roles at Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Tularik, and Abgenix, and Director of Business Development at Epitomics.
- **2004** — Founds Multispan, Inc. in the San Francisco Bay Area, focused exclusively on GPCRs.
- **2007** — Multispan's Series B funding round (latest funding on record), part of $1.1M total funding.
- **2015** — Becomes a Business Advisor for the BayBio FAST Program; serves on Santa Clara University's Bioengineering Advisory Board.
- **2015-2018** — Serves as a judge for the BioGENEius Challenge.
- **2023** — Avantor expands its cellular science offerings by adding Multispan's cell engineering and assay services.
- **2024** — Marks 20 years of Multispan; featured in GEN on consistency in cell-based assays and the role of AI.
- **2025** — Announces a drug discovery collaboration with Synfini, pairing Multispan's GPCR biology with Synfini's AI Cloud Foundry.

## Achievements

- Founded and has led Multispan, Inc. for 20+ years as a profitable, focused GPCR specialist.
- Built the industry's largest collection of highly characterized human GPCR clones and GPCR-expressing stable cell lines, including the proprietary HEx high-expression series.
- Developed 1,000+ clonal stable cell lines and offers 1,600+ assay tools.
- Secured Multispan's inclusion in Avantor's global cellular science catalog (2023).
- Established collaborations and co-marketing with Medarex, Molecular Devices, and Synfini.
- Advises the next generation through Santa Clara University, the BayBio FAST Program, and the BioGENEius Challenge.

## Latest updates

- **2025-05** — Multispan and Synfini announce a drug discovery collaboration targeting a high-value GPCR, combining Multispan's assays with Synfini's AI Cloud Foundry.
- **2023-11** — Avantor adds Multispan's cell engineering and assay services to its cellular science portfolio.

## Links

- Website: https://multispaninc.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/helena-mancebo-a26b752
- Twitter/X: http://www.twitter.com/MultispanGPCR
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/multispangpcr

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/helena-mancebo
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-12