Base to Base biotech podcast 30: Life sciences in Lithuania

This week, we have three interviews done during Life Sciences Baltics, which was held in Vilnius, Lithuania recently. While we have more still to come, this week on the podcast we have conversations with Justinas Mačiulaitis, Keli Therapeutics’ founder and CEO; Arnas Karužas, CEO of Ligence; and Emilė Radytė, CEO and co-founder of Samphire Neuroscience.LigenceLigence is a health‑tech startup using artificial intelligence to automate echocardiography.Founded in 2019 by a team of medical doctors and engineers, the company’s flagship product, Ligence Heart, applies deep learning to 2D ultrasound images, automatically recognising views and performing cardiac measurements. This reduces the manual workload for clinicians and improves diagnostic consistency in heart disease monitoring.Headquartered in Vilnius, Ligence has raised seed funding from European investors including Simpact VC and the EIC Fund, and is working to expand its AI‑driven cardiac diagnostics platform into hospitals and clinics across Europe.Samphire NeuroscienceSamphire Neuroscience is a femtech and digital health company developing non‑invasive neurotechnology to support women’s health.Founded in 2021, the company’s first product is a wearable headband, Nettle, that uses gentle electrical neuromodulation to alleviate symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle, such as pain, fatigue, and mood changes.With offices in Vilnius and London, Samphire has attracted international venture backing and accelerator support, positioning itself at the intersection of neuroscience, wearables, and women’s health innovation. Its mission is to provide accessible, science‑based tools that improve quality of life for women worldwide.Keli TherapeuticsKeli Therapeutics is advancing next‑generation cell therapies for acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.Its lead candidate, KELI‑101, is designed to prevent acute kidney injury (AKI) following cardiac bypass surgery — a complication that often progresses to chronic kidney disease. In September 2025, Keli announced a strategic manufacturing partnership with Bramble Bio to scale production of KELI‑101, pairing its activated perinatal‑origin mesenchymal stromal cells with Bramble’s cGMP expertise.Earlier this year, the company also secured a €2.5m European Innovation Council grant to launch clinical trials in AKI. With a platform up to 20 times more potent than standard MSCs, Keli is positioning itself as a leader in regenerative medicine with broad potential across inflammatory and degenerative diseases.To get in touch with guest suggestions, or to sponsor or advertise on the podcast, please email [email protected]