As a Ph.D. student at Florida International University, Andria Beal developed a test that made it possible for researchers to pinpoint the chronological age of sharks and dolphins.
Now, she's using that research to help pet owners improve the health outcomes of their dogs and cats by determining their approximate age.
Trending: Tesla center in Fort Lauderdale sold to Los Angeles investor
In 2022, Beal completed her doctorate in biology and epigenetics, the study of how behavior and environment can change the way genes work. Soon after, she used her savings to bootstrap EpiPaws, a DNA testing startup focused on epigenetic biomarkers for pets.
"At first, I wanted to make an age test for all animals," Beal said. "But then, I realized no one was doing it specifically for pets, even though there are millions of rescue pet owners out there who don't really know how old their dogs or cats are."
Knowing the age of of a pet can help an owner determine how much exercise is ideal, the food it should be eating, and offer insight into potential health issues.
Beal started off by attending community events and asking people if she could swab their pets' mouths to collect samples for her research. She used the opportunity to explain how epigenetic research could determine how lifestyle and environmental factors affect the biological health of their animals and impact longevity.
Read more: Longtime Miami International Auto Show returns
In January, EpiPaws began to sell chronological age tests on it website and Amazon.com for $120. The test consists of an at-home collection kit that is mailed to the company's lab for analysis.
Beal is also developing a biological age test that she expects will be available for beta testing by the end of 2024. That test will analyze epigenetic biomarkers to offer more insights into a pet's health, including whether it is at risk of developing diseases such as cancer, diabetes or kidney disease. All of that information will be used to create a health score that will compare an animal's chronological age to its biological age.
"It might say, for example, 'Your pet is 5 years old, but is biologically 7,' which would indicate there are some health issues," Beal said.
EpiPaws is in the process of raising its first pre-seed funding round from investors. Going from a laboratory to pitch meetings was initially a jarring transition, said Beal, who lives in Fort Lauderdale. She's turned to local incubators and accelerators including StartupFIU and the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation for mentorship and guidance on building a company. She is currently participating in FAU Tech Runway's yearlong Venture Program.
The startup is also partnering with the University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine to study food processing for pets, and how that affects health and aging.
Related: Miami's tech sector two years later: Was the media hype real?
While some pet DNA tests already exist on the market, Beal said EpiPaws has an edge because of its focus on epigenetics. Eventually, the startup will be able to explain how factors such as lack of exercise or poor food quality can cause a pet to age prematurely and offer suggestions to improve health.
"DNA testing companies out there have sort of reached the peak of what they can tell people by looking at the genetic sequence alone," she said.
For more stories like this one, sign up for Miami Inno newsletters from the South Florida Business Journal and the American Inno network.
