SLEEP & LONGEVITY
A startup to combat ageing
Now for some good news: it turns out we can counter the effects of ageing ! Dr Semira Gonseth Nusslé, an academic researcher who studied in Lausanne and San Francisco and specialises in epigenetic markers and their effects on health, has investigated the subject in some detail. Together with her husband Sébastien Nusslé, in 2019 she set up a startup called Genknowme SA. The aim of this spin-off from Vaud University Hospital is to help mitigate the effects of ageing and prevent chronic diseases with the help of tests and analysis. We asked her all about it.
Dr Semira Gonseth Nusslé specialises in research and preventive medicine. Her own research in the field of epidemiology led to her creating Genknowme, a startup.
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enknowme: what’s in a name ? As English-speakers
research into the epidemiology of chronic diseases, I discovered the potential of biomarkers and their applications for the general public. That led us to develop tests and an analysis method focusing on ageing and chronic stress. Indeed, biomarkers are not set in stone. You mean that by becoming aware of certain key biomarkers, we can have a positive impact on them, in particular as regards ageing ? Precisely! Ageing can be reversed and the risk of developing chronic diseases can be mitigated. We’re currently seeing major advances in longevity medicine and early treatment of some diseases that can be detected by our tests. However, proper interpretation of the results is vital. Our partners are there to
may realise, the idea is to get to know yourself better by finding out what your genes say about you. Genknowme is in fact a medical laboratory that’s a spin-off from Vaud University Hospital. Practically speaking, we’ve developed tests that can measure how patients are ageing, taking into account their profile and lifestyle. A major part of the work in our lab involves studying patients’ epigenetic biomarkers; our algorithms can analyse this data to help clinics and practitioners provide more targeted treatment. What is a biomarker ? A biomarker is any measurable biological characteristic, offering insights into patients’ lifestyles, stress, and age. During my academic
recommend appropriate changes to lifestyle, diet, sleeping habits and so on, on the basis of each patient’s profile. Practically speaking, what do your tests measure ? We measure patients’ biological age using a blood sample, more
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