Deepak Kumaran Nair, Co-founder-CEO, eNLife Research
Deepak Kumaran Nair’s childhood dream of joining the armed forces was cut short after health complications forced him to step away from the National Defence Academy (NDA).The setback, however, served to set him on an unexpected path — from studying physics to discovering neuroscience when doing his PhD in Germany. Today, Nair is co-founder of eNLife Research, a Bengaluru-based startup developing AI-powered health diagnostic tools.An AI-powered blood test that Nair and his team are currently building could potentially identify an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease 10 to 15 years before the onset of symptoms.The startup’s goal is to make early detection affordable and accessible, particularly for Indians, whose genetic and lifestyle risk factors often differ from those used in designing global diagnostic models.A simple blood testMoreover, while conventional diagnostic approaches largely rely on PET scans, MRI or cerebrospinal fluid analysis, eNLife’s blood-based test can be administered through routine diagnostic centres.The technology combines highly sensitive biomarker detection with AI capabilities to identify the subtle biological patterns associated with early stages of neurodegeneration. According to the company, the test using routine blood samples could eventually deliver results within two to five hours.It involves using a panel of five to seven biomarkers associated with neurodegeneration, including proteins linked to amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles — two hallmarks of Alzheimer’s pathology.While the startup’s initial focus is on Alzheimer’s disease, over time it plans to expand the platform to analyse 25-100 biological markers simultaneously across multiple forms of dementia and neurodegenerative disorders.Its AI engine is being trained to identify subtle correlations between these biomarkers, helping detect early signs of disease progression years before clinical symptoms emerge.Dignity of lifeFor Nair, the mission extends beyond scientific innovation.“It’s not only about diagnostics and therapies, it’s also about maintaining dignity of life because it’s very hard for one to start losing memories. That’s like losing identity,” he says.While the company is yet to file patents, Nair says eNLife expects to begin the patenting process over the next 9-18 months, covering multiple technology verticals including biomarker binders, diagnostic assays and its detection platform.Funding supportThe startup plans to raise $1-2 million to build and validate its prototype and is working with institutions such as NIMHANS and the Centre for Brain Research, in Bengaluru, to generate data from Indian cohorts.Published on June 8, 2026
