Which problem is your research seeking to solve? When did you first realise there was commercial potential?
Dementia is usually diagnosed too late. People are missing the window to access new treatments or join clinical trials, which are most effective in the early stages. By the time symptoms show, we’ve often lost valuable time.
Our aim is to shift that timeline: to detect changes in the brain much earlier, ideally before any symptoms appear at all. Our work focuses on a small part of the brain where new brain cells are made throughout life. This process is called ‘neurogenesis’ and it’s important for learning and memory, which starts to break down early in Alzheimer’s disease.
We’ve developed a lab-based blood test that can measure early biological changes linked to dementia risk. When Sandrine started to present our research at conferences, we realised we had something useful beyond the lab. Repeat interest from other researchers and clinicians made us realise that ‘maybe we’re not just answering a scientific question; we might actually have something that could make a real difference' - so we decided to explore the commercial path.
What initial steps did you take to explore the innovation?
The first step was to speak with the IP & Licensing team at King’s. They helped us understand the commercial potential of our work and supported us through the process of securing a patent for the assay. This was a pivotal moment because it turned what had been purely academic research, into something with real-world application.
Their guidance gave us the confidence to start thinking about our work differently – not just as a discovery, but as a product that could eventually reach patients and clinicians. Having this support early on made a big difference; it showed us that King’s not only valued our science but was also willing to back its potential beyond the lab.
Why did you decide to join King’s Spinout Accelerator?
We knew we had a strong scientific foundation but turning that into something people can actually use is a completely different challenge. The King’s Spinout Accelerator presented an opportunity to bridge that gap. It offered what we needed: practical guidance on how to build a venture, exposure to people who have done it before, and a structured environment where we could learn what it really takes to move from lab to market.
Edina’s energy, enthusiasm and experience in both academia and industry were key to us moving forward. Her belief that this wasn’t just a scientific idea and her drive to make it happen, played a big part in pushing us to apply.
More than anything, we wanted to build our confidence. As academics, it’s easy to feel like you’re not ‘business-minded’ enough, but this programme helped us see that you don’t need to have an MBA or a perfect plan. You just need to be open to learning, and willing to start.