ILoF, a start-up based at the Oxford Foundry, has received €2 million from an acceleration programme to combat Alzheimer’s disease through artificial intelligence and photonics. 

The portable system serves as a file for the fingerprints of various neurodegenerative diseases and allows rapid and non-invasive tests for diseases, including Alzheimer’s.

Though its research and development arm is based at the Medical Research Centre at the University of Porto in Portugal, the start-up has secured a place at the Oxford Foundry until May next year as part of the OXFO L.E.V8 accelerator.

The L.E.V8 accelerator is a six-month programme providing Oxford University students and alumni-founded ventures with mentorship, masterclasses as well as access to a global network of industry experts, mentors, advisors and investors, and free legal, business, finance, creativity and technology support.

Joana Paiva, one of the founders of iLoF, said: “The goal now is to change the paradigm of today, using methods such as artificial intelligence and photonics to accelerate the development of new and personalised treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.” 

“Every three seconds someone in the world develops Alzheimer’s. Although there are 50 million people worldwide with Alzheimer’s, there has been no new treatment approved in the last 14 years and more than 400 clinical studies have failed. Another recognised fact is that the number of Alzheimer’s patients is expected to triple by 2050”.