In the field of metabolomics, we owe a lot to A.E. Garrod (pictured on the right).

Who was A.E. Garrod?

In 1909, Archibald Garrod, MD wrote a book, “Inborn Errors of Metabolism” and pioneered the field of “Biochemical Individuality”. 

He is recognized as the "father of biochemistry" by the Royal Society of Medicine.

Inborn-Like Errors of Metabolism (IEMs) are subtle, sub-clinical forms of serious medical illnesses.

From cancer to Covid, diabetes to dementia virtually every disease reflects a state of alerted metabolism. Following the landmark observations of Archibald Garrod who defined Inborn Errors of Metabolism (1909) we find subtle potentially addressable “Inborn-Like” errors of metabolism in the blood of many otherwise healthy patients. 

Applying these technologies to metabolomic analysis allows a detailed view into the 40 000+ ‘metabolites’, the smallest molecules in human biology, which can reveal biomarkers of disease, particularly cancers, at the very earliest stages of development. At this level of granularity, the way is then open towards truly Personalized Healthcare.

As we age, we manifest disease states that reflect biochemical stresses associated with life-long exposure to “in-born like” errors of metabolism. Stressors from diet, lifestyle, obesity, metabolic syndrome, late pregnancy, or exposure to toxins lead to metabolic re-programming (largely epigenetic) resulting in mal-adaptations that are detectable in the blood at the very earliest stages.

One example of an IEM is Glycogen storage disease. With this, your body isn't able to store sugar from the food you eat which causes low blood sugar.

Another example of an IEM is Hemochromatosis which is a build-up of excess iron levels in your body.

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) can affect anyone since the condition is the result of a genetic change in your DNA.

Our next generation metabolomics platform enables us to detect subtle but clinically significant inborn-like errors of metabolism which offers the opportunity for intervention with individualized recommendations for diet, lifestyle and behavior.