DNA way to wellbeing
TAKE a deep dive into your own biology with FitnessGenes and its DNA hard science could lead you to the best lifestyle choices to delay or prevent disease.
“Your genetics is not your destiny for the majority of chronic illnesses, merely a guideline to what conditions you may be at risk from and what actions you can take,” advise the UK company’s co-founders, both doctors, Samantha Decombel and Stuart Grice – who are now embarking on expansion with a new business portal and further investment raise.
For individuals there is FitnessGene’s patented system, utilising the latest DNA sequencing technology to check more than 800,000 genetic variants.
After submitting a one-off saliva test, customers receive interpretations and guidance. So far these have built bespoke blueprints for around 55,000 clients worldwide.
Through the test FitnessGenes pinpoints fundamental factors, such as food choices, activity, hormone health and sleep, that affect health and susceptibility to disease.
With encryption ensuring data security, it is a unique matchmaking service that provides customers with “precise insights and guidance defining interventions including recommendations of products and services which we vet for quality, service and ethical value,” says Decombel, who is the company’s chief executive while Grice is its head scientific officer.
“Our service is focused on healthy living,” she explains. “But there’s so much information out there and a fragmented marketplace, it can be very confusing for people. “We don’t diagnose, we identify pre-disposition and our holistic approach helps to create cohesion.
“We extract the accurate specifics.
“For example, if two males show a propensity for low testosterone and share the same genetic variant, we drill down to identify risks depending on what stage of life they are at.”
After just more than a decade the company, based in London and Oxfordshire, is forecasting a £1.7m turnover next year as it expands its offering with a new commercial portal FitnessGenes Pro.
This is for healthcare practitioners – from personal trainers to nutritionists and clinicians – to help bring genomics (the study of all a person’s DNA) into their practices for bespoke reports.
This generates recurring revenue for the company through a licensing model and already has partners in Bulgaria and the Middle East, and is now looking at the US.
Employing a 14-strong team of doctors, geneticists and sports scientists, after £8 million investment it is in the throes of a further £5m raise to grow FitnessGenes Pro. New product development is also focusing on partnerships in the personalised supplements, foods and drinks markets. An army of biological avatars could soon be on the march.
fitnessgenes.com, tests are £149 or £69 with an existing DNA data file.