In 2019, Ben Nashman, the founder of Synex Medical, found himself inconvenienced by a lengthy detention at US customs on a typical evening. While en route to assemble components for his DIY MRI project in Toronto, Nashman clarified that his endeavour was purely focused on transporting necessary supplies from Buffalo. Despite initial reservations, customs officials scrutinized the package’s label: “Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.”
Nashman devoted hours to impressing the committee in their state-of-the-art meeting room, eventually convincing them that despite his youthful appearance as an 18-year-old researcher, he possessed a remarkable passion for MRI technology. With permission to transport his approximately 80-pound magnet, he sped off once more to Toronto. He revealed that he obtained again around 3 or 4 am, managing to squeeze in a few hours of rest before classes.
At 24, Nashman may have inadvertently landed himself on an inventory of suspicious individuals. Nevertheless, he firmly insists it was worth the risk: that one very lengthy evening was a pivotal moment in his years-long quest to develop a transportable MRI capable of testing glucose and other essential molecules without the necessity for invasive blood extraction. As a significant milestone in its journey towards success, the corporation has taken a crucial step forward by securing a $21.8 million Series A funding round, attracting prominent investors such as Confederate, Radical Ventures, Fundomo, and Khosla Ventures. The round garnered a total of over $36 million in funding for the corporation, comprising seed funding from renowned investor Sam Altman.
Currently, Synex’s prototype measures the size of a toaster; however, Nashman aspires to eventually miniaturize it to fit comfortably within the palm of one’s hand. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the device initially generates a three-dimensional image of the finger, identifying the optimal location for analysis. The technology leverages magnetic resonance spectroscopy to transmit radio pulses that stimulate various molecules, according to Nashman. The machine subsequently aggregates indicators from each molecule and meticulously sifts through them to isolate a specific one. Synex will initiate glucose testing, ultimately expanding its scope to include the analysis of amino acids, lactate, and ketones.
The corporation assigned me to work with Diane Morency, a woman residing primarily in Massachusetts who has been living with Type 2 diabetes for several years. As she spoke, I noticed the telltale signs of wear on her fingertips – a testament to her dedication to her beloved instrument, which now lay still and silent beside her due to the excruciating pain that had taken hold. “It would be a blessing not to have to prick my fingers anymore.”
Although there’s a motive non-invasive glucose testing remains uncommercialised: tracing glucose levels precisely without drawing blood is challenging, let alone making the system portable and affordable. “At the time, we thought it was a long shot,” said Jun Jeon, a healthcare-focused investor at Khosla Ventures.
Despite Jeon’s reservations about testing Nashman’s prototype, he noted that if the developer could deliver on its promises, “it was essentially a steal at this price.”
An obsession with longevity
Nashman’s fascination with perpetual dwelling was a constant theme throughout his existence.
At 16, he stormed into the vet’s clinic, clutching a stack of printed scientific papers.
He determined that his dog should be prescribed rapamycin, a medication that has garnered significant attention from those advocating for increased lifespan. What were you trying to say, Nashman? The veterinarian looked perplexed. According to Nashman, the individual in question was reminiscent of someone who dismissed a particular approach as “simply too experimental for me.”
Despite the vet’s refusal to treat his beloved dog, he remained resolute in seeking help for his ailing pet. As a young boy, I managed to get my parents involved in the project, which was quite an accomplishment for me at the time, I chuckled. However, I don’t see anything that needs improvement in this sentence, so the answer is SKIP.
The initiation of a series of experiments aimed at extending one’s lifespan. In the early days of Silicon Valley, Nashman, like many others before him, turned to drastic measures to succeed. He experimented with diabetes medication, such as Actos (arcarbos), paying thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for treatment, and then acquired a coveted . As his fixation on well-being merged with an interest in physics, specifically the elegant principles governing MRI technology, he became captivated by the profound insights these machines could offer into the human body’s intricate workings.
At the tender age of 17, this ambitious individual took it upon himself to source materials online and construct a rudimentary MRI setup in his bedroom – an endeavour that, as he later admitted, ultimately yielded subpar results. By age 18, he had already gained valuable experience through a research internship focused on brain imaging at Toronto’s prestigious Mount Sinai Hospital, while also pursuing his studies in engineering science at the University of Toronto. “I’ve likely seen a plethora of MRI files,” he said. I’ve likely examined my finger countless times at this stage.
With MRI expertise potentially serving as the ultimate longevity hack, he gained unparalleled insights into his physical state, far surpassing the capabilities of even the most advanced wearables like Oura Ring and Whoop. After meeting Altman in 2019, he initially shared his aspirations with him, before subsequently securing the Thiel Fellowship under Peter Thiel’s guidance in 2021.
While Nashman may have the support of Silicon Valley’s power brokers, he still faces intense competition from established players with significant resources backing them. Startups such as Know Labs and Germany’s DiaMonTech are independently developing their own non-invasive technologies. Apple has developed a non-invasive glucose monitor, following in the footsteps of Google, which attempted to create its own personal glucose monitoring contact lens.
Synex Medical faces a daunting struggle from the very start. To gain FDA approval, the corporation must undergo arduous and meticulous scientific testing to conclusively demonstrate the machine’s ability to accurately extract glucose molecules. The lingering question remains: Can Nashman successfully scale expertise into a portable format? “Notably unhelpful,” Morency said bluntly. “It may not benefit us beyond our household.”
However, let’s say Nashman nails all of that? Synex catapults forward with FDA-approved trials, successfully miniaturizing its current metallic toaster design into a compact device that fits comfortably within the palm of one’s hand. According to Jeon, the startup will initially launch in a healthcare sector plagued by difficulties in making innovative technology affordable. “Lack of sufficient infrastructure and inadequate reimbursement hinders access to quality care for many patients,” Jeon emphasized.
Will Nashman be willing to sacrifice his personal life and relationships to potentially extend his lifespan? What does my body truly require? He asked himself what his parents were seeking. “A talent like this is crucial for propelling us into an era of predictive medicine.”
