NEWSROOM
Alimetry: Shaping the future of medical diagnosis
14 March 2024
Digital healthcare and diagnostic company Alimetry is a prime example of how academia and industry can work together to create pioneering innovations. Alimetry started their journey in the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) and Faculty of Medical & Health Science’s Surgical Engineering Lab, where years of interdisciplinary research laid the groundwork for their breakthroughs in digestive health. Alimetry’s strong ties with the ABI are clear through their involvement in the Cloud-9 programme, a platform dedicated to nurturing ABI spin-out companies. The programme fosters a supportive environment where start-ups can continue their research and development, maintaining a strong connection with their research groups.
Alimetry’s story began when Dr Armen Gharibans, Co-founder and CTO, met scientists from ABI. Armen had been pursuing a PhD in wearable devices at the University of California, San Diego, and became inspired by Professor Greg O’Grady’s work. Armen then followed him to New Zealand after Greg secured a grant in 2018.
Professor Greg O’Grady, a seasoned entrepreneur who co-founded The Insides Company, played a big role in Alimetry’s start. Armen credits Greg’s confidence and experience in MedTech as what pushed him to co-found Alimetry. Additionally, the support he received from Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland, through UniServices was crucial in bridging the gap between research and business during the company’s early days.
Alimetry also has a strong connection to the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), where the team had previously participated in the Velocity $100k Challenge with a related concept. Armen remembers “CIE supported us during our first steps. The journey is very long and the initial condition is quite critical to the path you take. As a you grow, it becomes more stable and the trajectory cannot be changed as dramatically day to day, but having support at the start is instrumental to being on the right path. Between CIE and UniServices, as well as Callaghan Innovation and the whole ecosystem in New Zealand, we would not have been able to get to where we are without that support at the start.”
Alimetry’s core offering revolves around body surface gastric mapping, a first-of-its-kind non-invasive diagnostic aid for gut health. Their wearable device, Gastric Alimetry, offers a non-invasive solution for gastric disease diagnosis. The device is applied to the abdomen and senses the stomach’s activity through the skin. The resulting data is then sent to the cloud for analysis and is used by clinicians to determine the causes of gastric symptoms. Specialising in gastro mechanical distress, the company addresses disorders that may not present with visible evidence, such as gastroparesis. With over 2,500 patients served to date, Alimetry’s strong beginnings showcase how their innovative approach is transforming the landscape of gut health diagnostics.
Having obtained FDA approval for Gastric Alimetry, the doors to a broader market are wide open for the company. In 2024 Alimetry has hit the ground running, with the American Medical Association (AMA) recognising the importance of their innovative approach by assigning a new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) III reimbursement code specifically for Body Surface Gastric Mapping, describing their Gastric Alimetry test. The new CPT III code is a key step in ensuring that their next-generation diagnostic tool becomes more accessible to patients across the United States.
With Gastric Alimetry now having FDA approval as well as being cleared for clinical use in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, Alimetry is using the capital from their latest funding round to transition from the development into the commercialisation phase. They will be seeking additional regulatory approvals in Canada and Australia, but their primary focus remains on the US market, where they are currently based in Minneapolis and plan to expand their team and strengthen their commercial presence. Additionally, they are exploring future product developments and advancing ongoing research and development projects.
Alimetry’s contribution to both technology and gastroenterology has been recognised through a multitude of awards, including three at the 2022 NZ Hi-Tech Awards and the Breakthrough Project Award at the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards, as well as the New Zealand International Business Award 2023 in the Excellence in Innovation category.
As Alimetry continues to bridge the gap between innovation and healthcare, its journey remains deeply rooted in research, entrepreneurship, and a commitment to making a lasting impact on global gut health. The collaborative spirit within the Alimetry team in addition to the support received from Aotearoa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to propel Alimetry forward on their journey to shaping the future of medical diagnosis.
14 March 2024
Digital healthcare and diagnostic company Alimetry is a prime example of how academia and industry can work together to create pioneering innovations. Alimetry started their journey in the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) and Faculty of Medical & Health Science’s Surgical Engineering Lab, where years of interdisciplinary research laid the groundwork for their breakthroughs in digestive health. Alimetry’s strong ties with the ABI are clear through their involvement in the Cloud-9 programme, a platform dedicated to nurturing ABI spin-out companies. The programme fosters a supportive environment where start-ups can continue their research and development, maintaining a strong connection with their research groups.
Alimetry’s story began when Dr Armen Gharibans, Co-founder and CTO, met scientists from ABI. Armen had been pursuing a PhD in wearable devices at the University of California, San Diego, and became inspired by Professor Greg O’Grady’s work. Armen then followed him to New Zealand after Greg secured a grant in 2018.
Professor Greg O’Grady, a seasoned entrepreneur who co-founded The Insides Company, played a big role in Alimetry’s start. Armen credits Greg’s confidence and experience in MedTech as what pushed him to co-found Alimetry. Additionally, the support he received from Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland, through UniServices was crucial in bridging the gap between research and business during the company’s early days.
Alimetry also has a strong connection to the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), where the team had previously participated in the Velocity $100k Challenge with a related concept. Armen remembers “CIE supported us during our first steps. The journey is very long and the initial condition is quite critical to the path you take. As a you grow, it becomes more stable and the trajectory cannot be changed as dramatically day to day, but having support at the start is instrumental to being on the right path. Between CIE and UniServices, as well as Callaghan Innovation and the whole ecosystem in New Zealand, we would not have been able to get to where we are without that support at the start.”
Alimetry’s core offering revolves around body surface gastric mapping, a first-of-its-kind non-invasive diagnostic aid for gut health. Their wearable device, Gastric Alimetry, offers a non-invasive solution for gastric disease diagnosis. The device is applied to the abdomen and senses the stomach’s activity through the skin. The resulting data is then sent to the cloud for analysis and is used by clinicians to determine the causes of gastric symptoms. Specialising in gastro mechanical distress, the company addresses disorders that may not present with visible evidence, such as gastroparesis. With over 2,500 patients served to date, Alimetry’s strong beginnings showcase how their innovative approach is transforming the landscape of gut health diagnostics.
Having obtained FDA approval for Gastric Alimetry, the doors to a broader market are wide open for the company. In 2024 Alimetry has hit the ground running, with the American Medical Association (AMA) recognising the importance of their innovative approach by assigning a new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) III reimbursement code specifically for Body Surface Gastric Mapping, describing their Gastric Alimetry test. The new CPT III code is a key step in ensuring that their next-generation diagnostic tool becomes more accessible to patients across the United States.
With Gastric Alimetry now having FDA approval as well as being cleared for clinical use in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, Alimetry is using the capital from their latest funding round to transition from the development into the commercialisation phase. They will be seeking additional regulatory approvals in Canada and Australia, but their primary focus remains on the US market, where they are currently based in Minneapolis and plan to expand their team and strengthen their commercial presence. Additionally, they are exploring future product developments and advancing ongoing research and development projects.
Alimetry’s contribution to both technology and gastroenterology has been recognised through a multitude of awards, including three at the 2022 NZ Hi-Tech Awards and the Breakthrough Project Award at the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards, as well as the New Zealand International Business Award 2023 in the Excellence in Innovation category.
As Alimetry continues to bridge the gap between innovation and healthcare, its journey remains deeply rooted in research, entrepreneurship, and a commitment to making a lasting impact on global gut health. The collaborative spirit within the Alimetry team in addition to the support received from Aotearoa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to propel Alimetry forward on their journey to shaping the future of medical diagnosis.
EMAIL
CIE@AUCKLAND.AC.NZ
POSTAL ADDRESS
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL
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