Developing laser-based blood tests to distinguish causes of dementia
Different conditions can cause dementia, yet identifying the underlying disease often requires multiple specialist assessments and laboratory or imaging tests. Earlier, accessible differentiation can help clinicians plan care and select suitable patients for treatments and research.
Brainalyze is developing a rapid blood test to help clinicians identify and distinguish causes of dementia. Its intended role is to support earlier assessment and more informed treatment decisions through an accessible test that captures a broad biochemical signature.
What stands out about Brainalyze
Precursor Raman research classified Alzheimer’s with 93% accuracy in a held-out 28-patient cerebrospinal-fluid test set in 2025.
A 2025 MX-Raman study classified spectra from 15 post-mortem brains across five groups with 96.7% average accuracy using spectrum-level internal validation.
The team secured a £1.2M UKRI Cross-Council research grant through the HOpE project to further validate its dementia-detection technology.
Co-founder Sumeet Mahajan led spectroscopy and imaging research as Southampton’s professor of molecular biophotonics and imaging.
Co-founder George Devitt held an Alzheimer’s Research UK fellowship on optical biomarkers and diagnostics for neurodegenerative disease.
Brainalyze was selected for Future Worlds Cohort 25, receiving structured startup support and preparation to pitch investors in 2025.
Brainalyze won the Early-stage Innovator Award at Venturefest South’s 2025 Festival of Innovation in Southampton.
Brainalyze has built a working prototype of its MX-Raman biochemical-fingerprinting platform for neurological diagnostic development.
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