Startups
Amydis
Los Angeles, California, United States · La Jolla, California, United States
Clinical-stage biotechnology company developing small-molecule fluorescent ocular tracers to detect disease-related proteins through standard eye imaging. Its research targets amyloid beta, alpha-synuclein, tau, TDP-43 and other molecular biomarkers linked to neurodegenerative, ophthalmic and cardiovascular disorders. Amydis combines tracer chemistry, retinal imaging and AI-based analysis of molecular biomarker patterns, including a 2026 NIH-supported TDP-43 program for ALS, frontotemporal dementia and LATE. Its diagnostic candidates remain investigational; human clinical studies do not establish an approved screening test or treatment for Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease. Stella Sarraf founded Amydis in 2013. The company has corporate offices in Los Angeles and a laboratory in La Jolla and was previously named Amydis Diagnostics Inc. Its public funding includes NIH and Michael J. Fox Foundation research grants and three SEC-disclosed private securities offerings in 2022-2023. Grant budgets, offering targets and amounts actually sold are recorded separately.
Founded 2013
Team
 A. James KhodabakhshBoard Member |
 Alex HuangChief Medical Advisor |
 Alfredo SadunScientific Advisory Board Member |
 Ali TafreshiChief Technology Advisor |
 Christine AylwardBoard Member |
 David S. BoyerScientific Advisory Board Member |
 Eric M. ReimanScientific Advisory Board Member |
 Irene LitvanScientific Advisory Board Member |
 Jeffrey KordowerScientific Advisory Board Member |
 Jerre SteadBoard Member |
 Jose PulidoScientific Advisory Board Member |
 Kerri NelsonChief Operating Officer |
 Mervyn TurnerBoard Member |
 Philip WerthmanScientific Advisory Board Member |
 Robert N. WeinrebChair of Scientific Advisory Board |
 Robert ZamboniScientific Advisory Board Member |
 SriniVas R. SaddaScientific Advisory Board Member |
 Stella SarrafFounder, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member |
 Steven D. SchwartzScientific Advisory Board Member |
 Vicki P. RaeburnChief Data Science Officer |