Applied Morphomics has formally spun out of University of Michigan to deliver a medical analytics service powered by morphological scans of patients.
University of Michigan has formally unveiled US-based Applied Morphomics to commercialise an approach for determining morphological biomarkers from digital medical imaging scans.
Founded in October 2017, Applied Morphomics is working on a data analytics technology that sets out biological signifiers of patient health based on information collected from electronic images such as X-ray, MRI and CT scans.
The technology primarily evaluates morphological factors – indicators related to physical biological shape and structure such as the status of the patient’s organs or muscle groups and the nature of visceral or subcutaneous fat deposits.
Applied Morphomics expects its service to be utilised for applications including car crash testing, medical device development, drug design and drug trials. Other potential uses for the technology include prescribing appropriate precision therapies and enhancing surgical decision making.
The spinout’s approach extends work conducted by researchers including its founder Stewart Wang, an endowed professor of surgery at the University of Michigan Medical School and director of the university’s morphomic analysis group.
Wang was assisted by researchers including June Sullivan, managing director of the morphomic analysis group, and Sven Holcombe, one of Wang’s research assistants.
Carla Kohoyda-Inglis, program director at the university’s International Center for Automotive Medicine research hub, and Hannu Huhdanpaa, a former research fellow for the University of Michigan Program for Injury Research and Education, also helped develop Applied’s core technology.
Applied Morphomics does not appear to have previously raised equity funding.
Drew Bennett, associate director of University of Michigan’s commercialisaiton office, U-M Tech Transfer, said: “The deep analysis of the variety and often less apparent nuances of our physical structure that have been developed by the morphomics project is a phenomenally deep and sophisticated benchmarking reference.
“The variety of applications for this collection of personalised structural human roadmaps is staggering in its potential applications.”
