Why We Invested In Metri Bio - Pace Ventures Insights

At Pace Ventures, we partner with founders tackling overlooked problems with outsized human impact. Few areas embody this more clearly than women’s health, a domain that has been chronically underfunded, scientifically underserved, and technologically stagnant for decades. That is why we are excited to announce our investment in Metri Bio, a category-defining platform company developing first-in-class therapeutics for endometriosis, a condition affecting one in ten women worldwide.

Solving One of Medicine’s Most Neglected Diseases

Despite its massive global prevalence and debilitating impact, endometriosis remains one of the least understood conditions in modern medicine. Current treatments rely on decades-old hormonal pathways or blunt symptom management. They are often ineffective, poorly tolerated, and fail to address the underlying biological drivers of disease.

One of the biggest barriers to innovation has been the absence of a scientifically rigorous human model of endometriosis. Traditional mouse models fall short: mice do not menstruate, have fundamentally different hormonal signatures, and fail to recapitulate the cellular complexity of human disease. Previous attempts at 3D culture models lacked key cell types and functional relevance. As a result, drug development has been effectively flying blind.

Yet the need, and opportunity, is immense. Endometriosis costs the global economy tens of billions annually through lost productivity, chronic pain, infertility, and repeated surgeries. A targeted therapy that treats the biology of disease rather than its downstream symptoms could transform quality of life for millions.

Metri Bio’s Breakthrough: A Human-Specific Discovery Engine

Metri Bio is building exactly that future. The company, through foundational work at Yale University, has developed a high-throughput, 3D, human, multicellular model that faithfully replicates the biology of endometriosis. This represents a foundational scientific advance and unlocks the possibility of discovering novel targets and precision therapies that were previously inaccessible.

This platform is an engine designed to:

i) identify novel, high-value, disease-driving targets,

ii) develop differentiated therapeutic programs, and

iii) enable broad applications across endometrial diseases.

By starting in a high-need, high-impact indication, Metri is positioned to build the category-defining next-generation pipeline in women’s health.

The Team: Scientific Depth Meets Translational Ambition

Metri Bio is led by Ashley Abel, who began this research during her PhD at the Yale School of Medicine and has now spun the company out. From day one meeting Ashley, she brings a rare combination of deep scientific expertise and a mission-driven focus on transforming women’s health.

She is joined by an exceptional founding team. Berna Sozen, Assistant Professor at Yale and an internationally recognized pioneer in human organoid and developmental modelling, named Nature Methods’ 2023 “Method of the Year”, co-founded Metri Bio and supports the scientific foundation for the platform. Kathy Potts (COO) adds extensive experience in women’s health and translational program development, while Thomas de Vlaam, biotech entrepreneur and Pillar VC venture partner, brings critical company-building and operational expertise.

They have already built a highly capable scientific team from MIT, Harvard, and Yale with deep expertise in tissue modelling, pain biology, and endometrial disease, further accelerating Metri’s platform and pipeline.

Together, the team is uniquely equipped to define the next generation of targeted therapeutics for endometrial disease.

Right Place. Right Time. Right Team.

Women’s health is at a long-overdue inflection point. Novel biological tools, improved human modelling technologies, and rising pharma interest have created a landscape where breakthrough science can finally translate into breakthrough therapeutics.

Metri Bio stands at the forefront of this shift. Selected as a founding member of the Milken Institute Women’s Health Network, chaired by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, the company is recognized as a leader shaping the scientific future of women’s health.

Our Co-Investors

We are proud to join Pillar VC, Slocum Management, Navec Investments, and a mission-aligned group of angel investors in Metri’s oversubscribed $5M pre-seed round.

At Pace Ventures, we partner with founders tackling overlooked problems with outsized human impact. Few areas embody this more clearly than women’s health, a domain that has been chronically underfunded, scientifically underserved, and technologically stagnant for decades. That is why we are excited to announce our investment in Metri Bio, a category-defining platform company developing first-in-class therapeutics for endometriosis, a condition affecting one in ten women worldwide.

Solving One of Medicine’s Most Neglected Diseases

Despite its massive global prevalence and debilitating impact, endometriosis remains one of the least understood conditions in modern medicine. Current treatments rely on decades-old hormonal pathways or blunt symptom management. They are often ineffective, poorly tolerated, and fail to address the underlying biological drivers of disease.

One of the biggest barriers to innovation has been the absence of a scientifically rigorous human model of endometriosis. Traditional mouse models fall short: mice do not menstruate, have fundamentally different hormonal signatures, and fail to recapitulate the cellular complexity of human disease. Previous attempts at 3D culture models lacked key cell types and functional relevance. As a result, drug development has been effectively flying blind.

Yet the need, and opportunity, is immense. Endometriosis costs the global economy tens of billions annually through lost productivity, chronic pain, infertility, and repeated surgeries. A targeted therapy that treats the biology of disease rather than its downstream symptoms could transform quality of life for millions.

Metri Bio’s Breakthrough: A Human-Specific Discovery Engine

Metri Bio is building exactly that future. The company, through foundational work at Yale University, has developed a high-throughput, 3D, human, multicellular model that faithfully replicates the biology of endometriosis. This represents a foundational scientific advance and unlocks the possibility of discovering novel targets and precision therapies that were previously inaccessible.

This platform is an engine designed to:

i) identify novel, high-value, disease-driving targets,

ii) develop differentiated therapeutic programs, and

iii) enable broad applications across endometrial diseases.

By starting in a high-need, high-impact indication, Metri is positioned to build the category-defining next-generation pipeline in women’s health.

The Team: Scientific Depth Meets Translational Ambition

Metri Bio is led by Ashley Abel, who began this research during her PhD at the Yale School of Medicine and has now spun the company out. From day one meeting Ashley, she brings a rare combination of deep scientific expertise and a mission-driven focus on transforming women’s health.

She is joined by an exceptional founding team. Berna Sozen, Assistant Professor at Yale and an internationally recognized pioneer in human organoid and developmental modelling, named Nature Methods’ 2023 “Method of the Year”, co-founded Metri Bio and supports the scientific foundation for the platform. Kathy Potts (COO) adds extensive experience in women’s health and translational program development, while Thomas de Vlaam, biotech entrepreneur and Pillar VC venture partner, brings critical company-building and operational expertise.

They have already built a highly capable scientific team from MIT, Harvard, and Yale with deep expertise in tissue modelling, pain biology, and endometrial disease, further accelerating Metri’s platform and pipeline.

Together, the team is uniquely equipped to define the next generation of targeted therapeutics for endometrial disease.

Right Place. Right Time. Right Team.

Women’s health is at a long-overdue inflection point. Novel biological tools, improved human modelling technologies, and rising pharma interest have created a landscape where breakthrough science can finally translate into breakthrough therapeutics.

Metri Bio stands at the forefront of this shift. Selected as a founding member of the Milken Institute Women’s Health Network, chaired by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, the company is recognized as a leader shaping the scientific future of women’s health.

Our Co-Investors

We are proud to join Pillar VC, Slocum Management, Navec Investments, and a mission-aligned group of angel investors in Metri’s oversubscribed $5M pre-seed round.

At Pace Ventures, we partner with founders tackling overlooked problems with outsized human impact. Few areas embody this more clearly than women’s health, a domain that has been chronically underfunded, scientifically underserved, and technologically stagnant for decades. That is why we are excited to announce our investment in Metri Bio, a category-defining platform company developing first-in-class therapeutics for endometriosis, a condition affecting one in ten women worldwide.

Solving One of Medicine’s Most Neglected Diseases

Despite its massive global prevalence and debilitating impact, endometriosis remains one of the least understood conditions in modern medicine. Current treatments rely on decades-old hormonal pathways or blunt symptom management. They are often ineffective, poorly tolerated, and fail to address the underlying biological drivers of disease.

One of the biggest barriers to innovation has been the absence of a scientifically rigorous human model of endometriosis. Traditional mouse models fall short: mice do not menstruate, have fundamentally different hormonal signatures, and fail to recapitulate the cellular complexity of human disease. Previous attempts at 3D culture models lacked key cell types and functional relevance. As a result, drug development has been effectively flying blind.

Yet the need, and opportunity, is immense. Endometriosis costs the global economy tens of billions annually through lost productivity, chronic pain, infertility, and repeated surgeries. A targeted therapy that treats the biology of disease rather than its downstream symptoms could transform quality of life for millions.

Metri Bio’s Breakthrough: A Human-Specific Discovery Engine

Metri Bio is building exactly that future. The company, through foundational work at Yale University, has developed a high-throughput, 3D, human, multicellular model that faithfully replicates the biology of endometriosis. This represents a foundational scientific advance and unlocks the possibility of discovering novel targets and precision therapies that were previously inaccessible.

This platform is an engine designed to:

i) identify novel, high-value, disease-driving targets,

ii) develop differentiated therapeutic programs, and

iii) enable broad applications across endometrial diseases.

By starting in a high-need, high-impact indication, Metri is positioned to build the category-defining next-generation pipeline in women’s health.

The Team: Scientific Depth Meets Translational Ambition

Metri Bio is led by Ashley Abel, who began this research during her PhD at the Yale School of Medicine and has now spun the company out. From day one meeting Ashley, she brings a rare combination of deep scientific expertise and a mission-driven focus on transforming women’s health.

She is joined by an exceptional founding team. Berna Sozen, Assistant Professor at Yale and an internationally recognized pioneer in human organoid and developmental modelling, named Nature Methods’ 2023 “Method of the Year”, co-founded Metri Bio and supports the scientific foundation for the platform. Kathy Potts (COO) adds extensive experience in women’s health and translational program development, while Thomas de Vlaam, biotech entrepreneur and Pillar VC venture partner, brings critical company-building and operational expertise.

They have already built a highly capable scientific team from MIT, Harvard, and Yale with deep expertise in tissue modelling, pain biology, and endometrial disease, further accelerating Metri’s platform and pipeline.

Together, the team is uniquely equipped to define the next generation of targeted therapeutics for endometrial disease.

Right Place. Right Time. Right Team.

Women’s health is at a long-overdue inflection point. Novel biological tools, improved human modelling technologies, and rising pharma interest have created a landscape where breakthrough science can finally translate into breakthrough therapeutics.

Metri Bio stands at the forefront of this shift. Selected as a founding member of the Milken Institute Women’s Health Network, chaired by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, the company is recognized as a leader shaping the scientific future of women’s health.

Our Co-Investors

We are proud to join Pillar VC, Slocum Management, Navec Investments, and a mission-aligned group of angel investors in Metri’s oversubscribed $5M pre-seed round.