#38 - Esperance Therapeutics: Tackling Fish Odor Syndrome (TMAU) with Synthetic Biology

Special Note: Have TMAU or a loved one has TMAU, please see Ava Polly's message at the end of this description on how to get more info.

In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast, hosted by Mark McNees and powered by the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, we explore the groundbreaking work of Zachary Asarnow and Ava Polly from the FSU iGEM team, Esperance. Discover how this team is developing a cell-based therapeutic to address Fish Odor Syndrome (TMAU), a rare genetic disorder. Learn about the impact of TMAU on patients' lives, the team's innovative approach using FDA-approved E. coli bacteria, and their journey through the iGEM international synthetic biology competition. The episode also highlights the support from their advisors, the hurdles they face, and their ambitious goals for the future.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:30 Understanding iGEM and Esperance
01:09 Exploring Fish Odor Syndrome (TMAU)
02:50 Personal Experience with TMAU
04:16 Challenges Faced by TMAU Patients
05:07 Therapeutic Treatment Development
07:02 iGEM Team Structure and Roles
11:46 InNOLEvation® Challenge Experience
14:42 Student Journeys and Future Goals
17:53 Preparing for the iGEM Competition
21:07 Overcoming Obstacles and Defining Success
24:05 Support and Acknowledgements
27:41 Conclusion and Farewell

My name is Ava Polly, and I am the woman in the video. At the time of this video, I was a member of the 2024 iGEM team at FSU. Our team prototyped EsperSense, a device for monitoring trimethylamine (TMA) levels in the breath. Through this project, we had the privilege of educating thousands of people worldwide about TMAU and raised awareness of the condition. We were honored to receive a gold medal at the 2024 iGEM Grand Jamboree in Paris, France. As you know, the 2023 iGEM team at FSU developed E. esperance, a probiotic expected to work as a therapy for TMAU. E. esperance is currently being tested in the FSU Translational Science Laboratory, supported by a grant from the FSU Institute of Pediatric Rare Diseases.

The Rodriguez Lab, which is led by Dr. Cesar Rodriguez (the co-principal investigator of the EsperSense and E. esperance projects), has also developed a web application that is able to answer questions about TMAU in a conversational manner. The software is called the Pediatric Rare Diseases Knowledge Hub and it uses state-of-the-art artificial intelligence. Dr. Rodriguez is presently seeking approval from the FSU Institutional Review Board for making the application available to you for beta testing.

Finally, Zachary Asarnow, the Entrepreneurship Lead of the 2024 iGEM team at FSU, and I have founded Esperance Healthcare, a startup company dedicated to commercializing the EsperSense and E. esperance projects. Our mission is to address TMAU with solutions that are ethical, respectful, and impactful.

If you, or anyone you know suffering with this disease, would like to join our patient contact list for updates, please email me at [email protected].

Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to helping us tackle TMAU! We will continue to keep you updated on our progress."