205: Antibodies are the Answer with Namida Labs
Omid Moghadam & Namida Labs
Once again, we are back with another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward have an in-depth chat with Omid Moghadam, the founder and CEO of Namida Labs. Namida Labs uses unconventional approaches to develop quick solutions for current healthcare challenges. They have been an effective in creating large scale antibody testing for communities and large employers. In this episode, Omid discusses his expedition to Fayetteville, Arkansas; practical insights around COVID-19 related decisions and testing; and the meaning behind the company name “Namida”. Buckle up for a great episode!
Shownotes
(1:22) Omid’s entrepreneurship journey
(5:13) The creation of Namida Lab
(11:16) Omid shares his knowledge of COVID-19
(20:28) COVID-19’s effects on Namida Lab
(24:30) Omid’s critiques of the how the government handled COVID-19
(34:48) Omid’s advice for his younger self
(37:19) Wrapping Up
Links
Quotes
“I can’t predict anything, but what I can say is that all decisions made up to this date and from this point on are being made with incomplete and sometimes horribly wrong data.” (11:20)
“We worked six days a week, 12 to 14 hours, for a period of five weeks. We went essentially from a company that does omics, proteomics, and genomics, to learning how to do virology.” (20:33)
Antibodies are the Answer with Namida Labs
Startup Junkies podcast had the opportunity to speak with Omid Moghadam, CEO at Namida Lab, Inc.
Omid is an inventor and entrepreneur who took a leave of absence from his Ph.D. program and never looked back. He got a job with a corporation, which allowed him to develop a new business line in the cardiology space, using his knowledge of medical imaging devices. From there, Omin started multiple companies, eventually founding Namida Lab, Inc.
Namida Lab is working to create a breast cancer screening that looks for protein biomarkers found in human tears. Before the pandemic threw the plans off course, they were planning to validate the test and have it in the market by July 1st.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 reared its head, and all breast cancer screening stalled to a halt. They were not able to recruit patients for clinical studies, so Namida Lab decided to pivot towards addressing the situation with COVID. They were among the first laboratories in the country to have a validated antibody test for the virus.
Namida Lab targeted large employers who are reopening their offices, explaining that it is quite useful for employers to understand how the virus has moved through its employees over the three-month hiatus while working from home. Using both the antibody and PCR testing (swabbing inside the nose or cheek), allows for a better understanding of how they can reopen offices while maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for employees.
While he has more knowledge on the subject than the average person, Omid warns that all decisions that have and will be made, are done with incomplete data. This has created a significant struggle for companies such as his, as CDC is changing its recommendations with regularity.
Omid also cautions that it is problematic to focus solely on one piece of data. PCR tests are not 100% accurate, as they can create false positives. They also allow for human error by the person applying the test. According to Omid, you get a much better understanding of the affected population by looking at the results of both PCR and antibody tests.
As cancer clinics are opening back up, Namida Lab is also reviving its efforts to validate its breast cancer screening. However, this will not interfere with the work it has been doing in terms of antibody testing. They are essentially operating two different laboratories, one for research and development of cancer screening, and another for antibody testing. Omid hopes that the cancer screening will receive validation between now and the end of the year.
For more information regarding antibody testing with Namida Lab, click here.
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