iLoF

What began as a shared vision among a diverse team of scientists, inventors, and entrepreneurs has blossomed into iLoF (Intelligent Lab on Fiber), a pioneering force in the realm of personalized medicine. Founded in 2019 with roots in both Porto, Portugal, and Oxford, UK, iLoF embarked on a mission to revolutionize the way we approach drug discovery and development for complex diseases. The journey started with a fundamental challenge: the one-size-fits-all approach to medicine was failing millions of patients worldwide, particularly those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The founders, including CEO Luís Valente and COO Mehak Mumtaz, recognized that the heterogeneity of patients was a major roadblock in clinical trials, leading to staggering failure rates and immense costs. They envisioned a future where treatments could be tailored to an individual's unique biological profile.

This vision gave birth to a breakthrough AI-powered platform that combines photonics and artificial intelligence to create a digital library of disease biomarkers and biological profiles. By analyzing just a few drops of blood, iLoF's technology can generate 'optical fingerprints' that provide a wealth of information about a patient's disease subtype and progression. This non-invasive and rapid screening process marked a significant departure from the painful and often inconclusive methods that had long been the standard. The early days were marked by intensive research and development, culminating in a validated platform that promised to reduce the time and cost of clinical trials by up to 70% and 40% respectively. The company's potential was quickly recognized, attracting support from leading institutions like Microsoft Ventures, Mayfield, and EIT Health. This backing propelled iLoF forward, allowing them to expand their team, refine their technology, and forge crucial partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and research institutions. From its initial focus on Alzheimer's, iLoF has expanded its platform to tackle other challenging diseases, including ovarian cancer and COVID-19, continuously building its library of biological profiles to accelerate the dawn of a new era in personalized healthcare.