Genofax, a global biotechnology company specializing in developing AI technologies for genomic medicine, wants to start its big data driven medication in Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi-Australian gene scientist Dr Abed Chaudhury, co-founder of Genofax, told Dhaka Tribune that they were looking for partners in Dhaka to offer the new technology that analyses the gut microbiome's DNA sequencing data and provides personalized medication to improve human health.
He gave a lecture on this new digital frontier of modern medicine on Saturday at the York Hospital in Dhaka.
The microbiome is the collection of microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their genes. Those organisms naturally inhabit the different sites of the human body such as skin, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract, commonly known as gut.
Dr Chaudhury, who is well-known in Bangladesh for inventing a new type of rice cultivation method known as “Panchabrihi”, said they test stool to get the information of the gut microbiome.
"It's a new concept in modern medicine. It's a new diagnosis to assess the state of the health in a new way and then giving the measures (medication) to fix it," he said.
Probiotics, which are foods or supplements that contain live microorganisms, and prebiotics, which are high-fiber foods that act as food for human microflora, are used as medication for maintaining or improving the good bacteria (normal microflora) in the body.
The gut microbiome is linked to various diseases, including bowel diseases, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. It directly impacts the body's ability to absorb nutrients.
"We are looking for partners in Dhaka. It can be hospitals and doctors," Dr Chaudhury said, adding that they would collect stool samples in special boxes which will be then sequenced in the lab.
"We'll also set up that lab (DNA sequencing) in Dhaka. Bangladesh has the expertise and capabilities for genome sequencing," he said.
"Then the data will be checked by the AI by the international group. They will interpret and will give the advisory based on the lifestyle and age. It can cost Tk12,000 for a person's gut test," he said, when asked.
"It's big data. That's why AI technology is needed to interpret those."
After the success in Australia and the US, Genofax is looking at the Bangladesh market as both the founders of the company are from Bangladesh. Zahangir Alam is the CEO of the company.
Dr Abed Chaudhury studied chemistry at Dhaka University. He received his PhD in 1984 in Molecular Biology from the University of Oregon, USA.