Brain Chemistry Labs

Name

Brain Chemistry Labs

Legal name

The Institute for EthnoMedicine

Website

https://brainchemistrylabs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) & Specialized Clinical Lab Assays (HLAAALAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Chemistry & Hematology Diagnostics (automated analyzers, blood testing) (HLAAALAH), Molecular Diagnostics & Genomics Laboratories (HLAFAMAE), Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC), Toxicology & Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Laboratories (HLAFAMAF), Proteomics & Biomarker Analytical Testing (HLAGADAG)

Keywords

• Neurodegenerative disease research
• Blood diagnostic biomarkers
• Ethnobotanical drug discovery
• Cyanobacteria toxin testing
• Clinical trial research

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, BCL is funded primarily through donations from individuals and medical research foundations. The organization explicitly states it does not sell or endorse supplements.
2. Research Grants and Foundation Funding: Research conducted by the Institute is funded from medical research foundations and individual donors. Grants have been received from organizations such as the Dr. Denis R Lyman & Diane Kay Robards Lyman Foundation.
3. Technology Licensing: BCL seeks to license its diagnostic tests and treatments to pharmaceutical and diagnostic company partners who can conduct larger clinical trials and commercialize products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Brain Chemistry Labs is a non-profit research institute that develops blood-based diagnostic tests and therapeutic candidates for neurodegenerative diseases (ALS, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's) and glioblastoma. Its core product portfolio includes an ALS microRNA blood test with 97–98% accuracy, an Alzheimer's blood biomarker test based on a unique metabolite ratio, L-serine in FDA-approved clinical trials, violet-derived cyclotide research for glioblastoma, and a BMAA cyanotoxin detection assay for environmental water testing.

Product overview

Brain Chemistry Labs is a non-profit research institute developing a portfolio of diagnostic tests and treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. Core offerings include: (1) ALS Diagnostic Blood Test using microRNA biomarkers from extracellular vesicles with 97-98% accuracy; (2) Alzheimer's Blood Diagnostic Test based on metabolite ratios; (3) L-serine treatment in clinical trials for ALS and mild cognitive impairment; (4) Violet-derived cyclotides research for glioblastoma treatment; and (5) BMAA lateral flow immunoassay for environmental toxin detection. The research approach focuses on environmental toxins (particularly cyanobacterial toxin BMAA) as triggers for protein misfolding in ALS, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases. BCL operates a 27-institution global research consortium advancing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these diseases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ALS Diagnostic Blood Test (miRNA-based) Blood diagnostic test using a microRNA (miRNA) biomarker panel extracted from extracellular vesicles to detect ALS with 97–98% accuracy from a single blood draw; can diagnose both sporadic and familial ALS cases early and distinguish ALS from similar conditions.
• Alzheimer's Blood Diagnostic Test Blood test for early-stage Alzheimer's detection based on the unique ratio of two metabolites (2-aminoethyl dihydrogen phosphate and taurine), potentially predictive in pre-symptomatic cases and not reliant on amyloid markers.
• L-serine therapeutic Naturally occurring amino acid being tested in FDA-approved clinical trials for treatment of ALS and Alzheimer's disease (Mild Cognitive Impairment), potentially by helping prevent the protein misfolding that leads to neurodegeneration; demonstrated safe up to 30 grams per day in Phase I trial.
• Violet cyclotides for glioblastoma Circular peptides (cyclotides) extracted and synthesized from violets that increase the effectiveness of FDA-approved chemotherapy Temozolomide (TMZ) up to 8-fold against glioblastoma brain cancer cells, advancing toward human clinical trials.
• BMAA lateral flow immunoassay Simple lateral flow immunoassay, similar to a pregnancy test, for rapid detection of the BMAA neurotoxin in water; intended for water managers, fishermen, ranchers, and general recreation users concerned about cyanobacterial exposure.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% accuracy in identifying ALS patients from a single blood draw
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered notable and core.

• Calusa Water KeepernotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to study airborne cyanobacterial toxins in Florida using custom-engineered monitoring device (ADAM: airborne detection for algae monitoring). BCL performed pro bono analysis of water and air samples collected by volunteers.
• Medical University of Vienna (Dr. Christian Gruber)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on synthetic violet molecule research to determine safety and effectiveness as a step toward human clinical trials for glioblastoma treatment.
• Dillard University (Dr. Samantha Gerlach)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch fellow and professor focusing on synthetic cyclotide production from violets for glioblastoma treatment.
• Houston Methodist Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trial site for Phase II clinical trial of L-serine for Mild Cognitive Impairment, a precursor to Alzheimer's disease.
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) National ALS BiorepositorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided additional blood samples for validation of ALS blood diagnostic test, including 50 samples from ALS patients and later 100 additional samples.
• Dartmouth Department of NeurologynotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on ALS research and blood diagnostic test development, including Dr. Elijah Stommel's work on cyanobacteria exposure and ALS risk.
• Florida Gulf Coast University (Michael Parsons)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on cyanobacteria research as member of Florida's Blue-Green Algae Task Force, involved in ADAM device development.
• NeuroScience AssociatesnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerTennessee-based collaborator providing state-of-the-art tissue sectioning and staining at significant discount for Parkinson's disease research.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Quest Diagnostics: Quest Diagnostics is a leading clinical laboratory services company performing routine and specialty diagnostic testing including neurology biomarkers. Relevant as both a competitor in neurodegenerative diagnostics and a potential commercial partner for BCL's blood tests.
• Bio-Techne: Bio-Techne provides high-quality life science research reagents, assays, and diagnostic tools including neurodegeneration biomarkers. Comparable as a potential licensing partner or platform supplier for BCL's diagnostic and proteomics/biomarker research programs.
• Mayo Clinic Laboratories: Mayo Clinic Laboratories provides specialty reference laboratory testing including advanced neurological diagnostics. Comparable as a major academic reference lab with proprietary neurodegenerative disease tests and clinical validation infrastructure.
• LabCorp: LabCorp operates one of the largest U.S. clinical laboratory networks, performing diagnostic testing on patient specimens across all major disease areas. Comparable as a potential licensing/distribution partner for BCL's ALS and Alzheimer's blood diagnostics at scale.
• Biogen: Biogen is a major CNS and ALS therapeutics developer (e.g., Qalsody/Sodium phenylbutyrate for SOD1-ALS). Comparable as a broad incumbent pursuing neurodegenerative disease treatments and diagnostics with substantially greater capital and commercialization infrastructure than BCL.

Emerging players

• ProteoMediX: ProteoMediX develops blood-based diagnostic tests for prostate cancer and is expanding into other disease biomarkers using protein biomarker approaches. Relevant emerging peer in the broader blood-based molecular diagnostics space adjacent to BCL's neurodegenerative blood tests.
• Araclon Biotech: Araclon Biotech develops blood-based biomarker tests for early Alzheimer's disease (ABtest40 and ABtest42 measuring amyloid beta peptides). Directly comparable to BCL's Alzheimer's blood diagnostic in target indication and blood-based approach, though smaller scale.

Others

• ALS Therapy Development Institute: ALS TDI is the world's largest non-profit biotech focused exclusively on ALS research and drug discovery. Comparable to BCL as a non-profit research organization pursuing ALS therapeutics with a different operating model (industry-style drug discovery vs. ethnobotanical/licensing approach).

Direct peers

• Quanterix: Quanterix develops the Simoa ultra-sensitive biomarker detection platform, widely used for neurofilament light chain (NfL) and other neurodegenerative disease blood biomarkers. Comparable to BCL's blood-based microRNA and metabolite diagnostic approach using proprietary high-sensitivity detection methods.
• C2N Diagnostics: C2N Diagnostics commercializes the PrecivityAD blood test for Alzheimer's using mass spectrometry-based biomarker analysis. Directly comparable to Brain Chemistry Labs' Alzheimer's metabolite-ratio blood diagnostic, both targeting early-stage Alzheimer's detection from a blood draw.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=v5qQmOKHdJo
• Facebookfacebook.com/brainchemistrylabs
• Instagraminstagram.com/brain_chem_labs
• Xx.com/brain_chem_labs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brain Chemistry Labs