KaRa MINDS

What KaRa MINDS does

KaRa MINDS (legally KaRa Institute of Neurological Diseases) is an independent Australian research institute headquartered in Macquarie Park, Sydney. Founded in 2015, it operates a single-site integrated offering that combines a world-class clinical trials facility with a memory clinic, focused on dementia prevention, early detection, and access to pharmaceutical clinical trials. The institute is led by Dr. Kathryn Goozee, Director and CEO, supported by a multidisciplinary team of up to 20 clinicians and researchers including gerontologists, nurse practitioners, researchers, and coordinators.

The core technology platform integrates comprehensive clinical evaluation with blood-based biomarkers, neuroimaging biomarkers, and neuropathological biomarkers to enable early detection and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. This biomarker integration, combined with the execution of Phase 1 through Phase 4 trials under Good Clinical Practice standards, has positioned KaRa MINDS as an internationally recognised clinical trials site, having delivered studies for investigational therapies such as Simufilam, XPro1595, AL002, Semaglutide, Aducanumab, Donanemab, BAN2401, and ANAVEX2-73.

KaRa MINDS operates a hybrid professional services model with two distinct revenue streams. On the enterprise side, the institute partners with pharmaceutical companies to conduct national and international clinical trials, with the Executive Manager handling business development and pharma liaison. On the consumer side, the institute bulk-bills Medicare-rebated memory clinic assessments for proactive cognitive health screening, charges enquiry-based fees for specialist diagnostic consultations, and offers paid carer education and support services including teleconferencing. The institute maintains strategic relationships with Macquarie University, Dementia Australia, Macquarie Medical Imaging, Dementia Trials Australia, and the Australian Dementia Network (ADNeT), and is anchored by Dr. Goozee's academic appointment and 40+ peer-reviewed publications.

Name

KaRa MINDS

Legal name

KaRa Institute of Neurological Diseases

Website

https://karaminds.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KaRa MINDS is a Sydney-based independent research institute running an integrated clinical trials facility and Medicare-bulk-billed memory clinic, delivering biomarker-based dementia prevention, early detection, and pharmaceutical Phase 1–4 trial services to individuals at risk of dementia, their carers, and pharmaceutical sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dementia Clinical Research & Memory Clinic Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Dementia/Alzheimer’s Care Management & Behavioral Support (HLADALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Memory Care Care Management & Navigation (Dementia Care Coordination) (HLADACAJ)

Keywords

• Clinical trial services
• Memory clinic screening
• Dementia prevention programs
• Neurological biomarker diagnostics
• Pharmaceutical trial site

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Clinical Trial Conduct: KaRa MINDS conducts pharmaceutical clinical trials in partnership with pharmaceutical companies. Participation is free for volunteers; the company is compensated by pharma partners for trial execution.
2. Memory Clinic Services: Bulk-billed multi-disciplinary memory clinic screening services for proactive cognitive health assessment and dementia risk reduction. Revenue is derived from Medicare bulk-billing arrangements.
3. Specialist Diagnostic Clinic: Visiting specialist appointments for diagnostic clarity when indicated. Fees are determined on enquiry.
4. Carer Support Services: Education, guidance and emotional support for carers of loved ones with memory disorders. Private appointments and teleconferencing available. Additional fee applicable.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

KaRa MINDS runs an integrated clinical research and patient-care service for dementia: it conducts Phase 1–4 pharmaceutical clinical trials in partnership with drug developers, and operates a multidisciplinary memory clinic that delivers Medicare bulk-billed cognitive screening, specialist diagnostic assessments, biomarker-based early detection, and carer education and support. The Macquarie Park, Sydney facility co-locates a world-class clinical trials site with a memory clinic, supported by a multidisciplinary team of up to 20 clinicians and researchers.

Product overview

KaRa MINDS is a clinical research institute offering a coordinated suite of brain health services centered on dementia prevention, early detection, and clinical research. The core portfolio includes: Clinical Trials (participation in pharmaceutical trials investigating disease-modifying treatments), Memory Clinic Screening (bulk-billed cognitive health assessments), Specialist Diagnostic Clinic (visiting specialist consultations), Carer Support Services (education and emotional support for caregivers), Prevention Services (health and lifestyle optimization), and Detection Services (biomarker-based early identification). These services are delivered through a multidisciplinary team of up to 20 clinicians and researchers at their Sydney-based facility, with past trials including studies on Simufilam, XPro1595, AL002, Semaglutide, Aducanumab, Donanemab, and ANAVEX2-73, among others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clinical Trials

Quantifiable outcome

• Pathological process of Alzheimer's disease can begin up to 20 years before clinical symptoms become apparent, supporting the value of early detection and prevention.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Macquarie UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Kathryn Goozee holds an Honorary Associate Professorship within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Macquarie University. She is an invited member of the Leadership Group in the Dementia Research Centre, led by Prof Lars Ittner. The partnership supports academic collaboration, research leadership, and access to university resources and talent.
• Dementia AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDementia Australia provides counselling and a 24-hour help line, dementia library facilities, and ad-hoc social programs and education services to support individuals and families affected by dementia.
• Macquarie Medical ImagingcoreTechnology or IntegrationMacquarie Medical Imaging provides diagnostic imaging services for clinical trials and private services conducted by KaRa MINDS, enabling comprehensive neuroimaging biomarker assessments.
• Dementia Trials Australia (DTAus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Goozee serves as an executive member of Dementia Trials Australia, a network that optimises participant access by encouraging clinical trial site distribution within Australia.
• Australian Dementia Network, Clinical Trials Registry (ADNeT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Goozee is a Principal Investigator for ADNeT, enabling comprehensive assessment using advanced biomarker approaches. The partnership supports national clinical trial registry and research coordination.
• Dementia Research CommunityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDr. Goozee is a voluntary member of this fund-raising community that raises funds for dementia discovery research. Donations can be made via https://www.dementiaresearchcommunity.com/.
• Pharmaceutical Industry PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaRa MINDS partners with pharmaceutical companies to bring promising clinical trials to the community, helping people at risk of or living with dementia access hope through science. Past and ongoing partnerships span over 25 trials with major pharma companies including trials for Simufilam, XPro1595, AL002, Semaglutide, Aducanumab, Donanemab, BAN2401, ANAVEX2-73, and others.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Banner Alzheimer's Institute: US-based nonprofit research institute focused on Alzheimer's prevention, early detection, and conducting Phase 1-4 clinical trials with pharma sponsors — directly comparable operating model to KaRa MINDS as a dedicated AD clinical trials and biomarker center.
• Cogstate: Australian-based cognitive testing and digital health company providing endpoint services for clinical trials including Alzheimer's — comparable as an Australian-headquartered neuroscience clinical trials services provider serving global pharma.
• Cerveau Technologies: Provider of tau PET imaging biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease research, supplying pharma sponsors and clinical trial sites — comparable as a specialized dementia biomarker services company serving clinical research.
• Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA): Australian independent neuroscience research institute conducting dementia research and clinical trials — directly comparable as a Sydney/Australian research institute focused on neurodegenerative disease with pharma-sponsored trials.
• Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health: Major Australian neuroscience research institute with active dementia clinical trials program and biomarker research — comparable in scale, mission, and Australian footprint as a clinical-translational neuroscience center.
• Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA): UNSW-affiliated Australian research center focused on dementia epidemiology, prevention, and clinical trials — directly comparable as an Australian dementia-focused academic-clinical research organization.

Broad incumbents

• Eisai: Japanese pharma with leading Alzheimer's franchise (Lecanemab/Leqembi partnership with Biogen) and significant clinical trial programs — broad incumbent that sponsors AD trials and competes for trial site partnerships.
• Biogen: Major pharmaceutical company developing and commercializing Alzheimer's therapies (Aduhelm, Leqembi partnership) — comparable as both a sponsor of trials KaRa MINDS conducts and as a broad player in the AD therapeutics space.
• Clario: Global clinical trial technology and imaging company (formerly Bioclinica) offering imaging, eCOA, and trial endpoint services including dedicated neuroscience capabilities — broader portfolio but overlapping in clinical trial imaging and biomarker services for AD.

Others

• Dementia Australia: Australian national dementia advocacy and support organization providing counselling, education, and a 24-hour helpline — listed as a KaRa MINDS partner; thematically related ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, serving overlapping patient populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/karainstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 KaRa MINDS