Biotech
NeutraOat
The hypotheses
- There are many environmental toxins we pick up through our digestive tract that are bad for human health, like plasticizers and PFAS.
- Many of these are small and hydrophobic.
- It’s possible to modify oat beta glucan fiber to selectively pick up these small, hydrophobic toxins without picking up anything good.
The evidence
- 1 and 2 are based on the literature.
- 3 is a work in progress.
Current status: running experiments and getting people on the waiting list.
A therapeutic for certain chronic, age-related conditions
The hypotheses:
- Some chronic, age-related conditions are caused by [ ].
- [ ] is a therapeutic which can treat that specific cause.
- Combining [ ] with [ ] makes it safer, more effective, and easier to tolerate.
- This will also apply to cats.
The evidence:
- Studies in [ ] in humans, [ ] in dogs, and [ ] in mice.
- Some of our previous work.
Current status:
Running trials and looking for partners. Good so far!
A therapeutic for autoimmune conditions that aren’t well-treated by biologics
The hypotheses:
- A lot of autoimmune conditions are well-treated by biologics. But there are some that fall through the cracks.
- For example, chronic spontaneous urticaria is a condition in which cyclosporine is recommended as a treatment following failures of biologics. My conversations with experts in the field suggest roughly 10% of people fail biologics.
- Moreover, in countries with poor healthcare, or in people with poor health insurance, biologics are often unavailable or impossibly expensive.
- Cyclosporine is a commonly used immunosuppressant for chronic spontaneous urticaria as well as other autoimmune conditions. However, it has problems, including severe side effects and difficulties with administration.
- Combining cyclosporine with [ ]would reduce side effects, make it easier to administer cyclosporine, and ultimately make life easier for people with that condition.
Evidence:
- Surprisingly, there are case reports with the combination of cyclosporine and metabolic inhibitors. They show good results, and they show the combination is safe in humans.
- My in-vitro experiment also showed good results.
- My in-vivo experiments have also had good results. Next stop: clinical.
Current status: patent secured, funding mode activated. Find out more on highwaypharm.com .
Education business
My graduate exam tutoring business, Trevor Klee, Tutor
The hypothesis: People will pay a lot per hour ($100+) to get tutoring for graduate exams, if they think it will help them get into a good graduate program.
Evidence: A lot of people doing it before me.
Current status: Successful. It’s the main way I fund myself.
My graduate exam coaching business, done under the aegis of my graduate exam tutoring business.
The hypothesis: Tutoring involves a lot of wasted time covering stuff people could have taught themselves. There are a lot of people who just want support while they teach themselves, and don’t need to spend the time/money tutoring requires.
Evidence: Students I have taught who are mostly running on autopilot (i.e. I more answer questions and have them do homework than teach them directly).
Current status: Reasonably successful. It’s been very successful with MCAT students, as the MCAT is a very content-heavy exam which never lent itself that well for tutoring. It’s been mildly successful with less content-heavy exams, as a lot of people still just want tutoring.
My graduate exam books
The hypothesis: There are parts of the exams I teach that aren’t well covered by the “mainstays”, and there’s room to sell books to students still.
Evidence: Students I’ve taught who have gone through the mainstream courses and books, and still have gaps in their knowledge.
Current status: Reasonably successful. The books sell well, and I think the main barrier to them doing better is simply discovery. I’m currently making efforts to make them more discoverable on Amazon by gathering reviews, and I also sell them on my own website.