Professor honoured with Lifetime Achievement award

The award was made at a gala ceremony held in London. The Elektra Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Professor Toumazou at the 14^th annual awards ceremony in recognition of his dedication to saving and improving lives through leading-edge medical research.

His list of achievements includes cochlear implants for born-deaf children, an artificial pancreas for type 1 diabetics and a wireless heart monitor for personalised post-operative healthcare. In 2004, he invented and commercialised a semiconductor device that is radically changing the way in which DNA genetic sequencing is used in medical diagnosis, and which provides the technology platform for his latest venture, dnaNUDGE.

dnaNUDGE, co-founded by Professor Chris Toumazou and published geneticist and leukaemia researcher Dr Maria Karvela, is developing a disruptive new genetic testing service that empowers consumers with the information and assistive app technology to help them make the healthiest food shopping choices for their genetic characteristics. dnaNUDGE is currently trialling its solution with Imperial College London, ahead of wider commercial roll-out. 

With a focus on user privacy and control of your own genetic data, dnaNUDGE harnesses the principles of nudge theory (‘nudgeomics’) to power better lifestyle choices based on an individual’s unique genetic make-up.

dnaNUDGE couples proprietary DNA semiconductor technology and genotyping techniques with Dr Karvela’s database that matches the nutritional values of manufactured food products with genetic characteristics.  The result is completely personalised product recommendations towards healthier choices – a DNA ‘nudge’ – delivered through a wearable device or a mobile app.

At a retail counter, consumers will select a DNA cartridge and input saliva via a cheek swab. The cartridge is inserted into a portable purpose-built analyser. Minute quantities of DNA will then be automatically analysed within about 15 minutes. The results, which are entirely confidential to the user, are transmitted to the dnaNUDGE cloud database via blockchain security.

These are then analysed using a secure mobile phone app which personalises your shopping experience with bespoke ‘scan and shop’ recommendations of the products that are genetically optimal for you – at the touch of a button, and in the palm of your hand.

Commenting on his award, Professor Toumazou said: “I am grateful to the Elektra European Electronics Industry Awards organisers for this prestigious accolade, which I am delighted to receive.” He continued: “The vision for dnaNUDGE is very much a progression of my lifetime’s work in consumerised biomedical solutions – improving public health by guiding people with a ‘DNA nudge’ to make better day-to-day purchasing choices. The ability of technology to generate a profound and long-term impact on health and wellbeing has been a motivating factor throughout my career, and I’m excited to be continuing to drive this through dnaNUDGE.”

dnaNUDGE CEO Dr Maria Karvela commented: “We are immensely proud of Professor Toumazou’s achievements, and the team congratulates him on this recognition of his major contribution to biomedical innovation.” 

She added: “With dnaNUDGE, we are now working together to spearhead a new era of DNA-based personalised shopping that will not only create a more empowered and better informed experience for consumers, but will also help to tackle some of the major – and escalating – public health challenges of this century, including the epidemic rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes.”