NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) — IQuity said today it has received a $320,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop its data analytics technology for use in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease.
Nashville, Tennessee-based IQuity's technology uses RNA expression data to predict, detect, and monitor disease, as well as stratify patients by severity of disease. The firm currently offers tests for multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia, and for differentiating irritable bowel syndrome from inflammatory bowel diseases, through its CLIA lab.
With the NIH funding, the company plans to further develop its technology for the prediction and early detection of Alzheimer's disease.
"IQuity's advances in RNA testing and data science have potential to create predictive diagnostic tools that will lead to an earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's," Iquity CEO Chase Spurlock said in a statement. "New therapies that emerge for Alzheimer's will be most effective when administered early, which is difficult with today's diagnostic approach."
IQuity said it has received roughly $2.6 million in Small Business Innovation Research grants from the NIH to date. Last year, the company closed a $2.4 million round of seed financing.