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Chris Gibson

Chris Gibson is a biotechnology founder whose work at Recursion brought machine learning and cell imaging into drug discovery. He studied bioengineering and managerial studies at Rice, completed a bioengineering PhD at the University of Utah in 2013, and co-founded Recursion from image-based screening research. Recursion completed its combination with Exscientia in November 2024, and Gibson moved from CEO to board chair in January 2026. As of October 2026, he is an operating partner at Dimension, co-founder and CEO of BOXBOX, and serves on PacBio’s board.

Now at
Pacific Biosciences, Dimension and BOXBOX

Timeline

  1. By 2013

    Rice and Utah degrees

    He earns Rice bachelor's degrees in bioengineering and managerial studies and completes a bioengineering PhD at the University of Utah in 2013; he leaves medical school to build Recursion.

  2. 2013

    Founding Recursion

    During his University of Utah MD/PhD work, he develops software to analyze cell images and screen drugs for cerebral cavernous malformation. In 2013, he co-founds Recursion around machine learning, automation, and data at scale.

  3. 2020

    A deep-learning phenomics platform

    In August 2020, he shares Recursion’s preprint on deep-learning analysis of cell morphology. The work describes a scalable phenomics platform for modeling immune biology and screening potential therapeutics.

  4. By 2023

    Serving on BioHive’s board

    By 2023, he serves on BioHive’s board while leading Recursion; BioHive is a Utah public-private partnership that expands the state’s life-sciences ecosystem.

  5. November 2024

    Combining with Exscientia

    In November 2024, Recursion completes its combination with Exscientia while he remains co-founder and CEO, bringing the two AI drug-discovery businesses together.

  6. January 2026

    Becoming Recursion board chair

    In January 2026, he moves from Recursion CEO to board chair as Najat Khan becomes CEO and president.

  7. March 2026

    Joining PacBio’s board

    In March 2026, he joins PacBio’s board of directors.

  8. As of October 2026

    Operating partner at Dimension

    As of October 2026, he is an operating partner at Dimension, co-founder and CEO of BOXBOX, and a PacBio director.

Sources and credits

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  1. An Interview with Chris Gibson bme.utah.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. NCATS’ Small Business Funding Helps Launch New Platform for Rare Diseases Drug Discovery ncats.nih.gov. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. How University of Utah Research Helped Spark Recursion technologylicensing.utah.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Recursion Posts Immune Mapping and Drug Discovery Resource and Releases New Image Datasets recursion.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Trans-Atlantic Triumph: AI Drug Pioneers Recursion, Exscientia Combine genengnews.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. Our AI Drug Discovery & Development Story recursion.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. PacBio Announces the Appointment of Chris Gibson to the Board of Directors pacb.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  8. Chris Gibson’s Investing Profile - 6 Dimensions Capital | Signal signal.nfx.com. Checked 15 October 2026.