Embark Veterinary

Embark Veterinary

Embark is a privately held canine personal genomics and biotechnology company based in Boston, Massachusetts. Embark is known for its consumer and breeder dog DNA testing services that identify breed, ancestry, genetic disease risks, and other traits. Embark also performs genomics and other research.

Embark launched in 2016 at South by Southwest and unveiled its first service offering later that year on The Today Show. Unlike other dog DNA tests, but akin to several human consumer DNA tests, their core technology is a research-grade micro array that allows the company to harness users' data to make new discoveries in canine medicine. The company was formed at and is an official research partner of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Embark also has ties to the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute[1], connections to researchers at several top universities, and participated in earlier research done at Cornell and Stanford.

History

Embark was founded in 2015 by two brothers, Ryan and Adam Boyko. Their research on dogs at Cornell, Stanford, the University of California at Davis, and Yale stretch back to 2007. Their early research focused on village dogs, canine evolution, adaptation, and disease ecology. This research was covered in Science, Nature Communications, and The New York Times, among other publications. Since 2011, Adam has worked extensively on discovering the genetic basis of health and other traits as an Assistant Professor at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

After working in several places across the globe, Adam and Ryan partnered with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, along with consumer genetics pioneer Spencer Wells and Blue Apron Founder Matt Salzberg[2] to launch Embark with a mission to end preventable disease in dogs. Embark secured early backing from Salzberg, Slow Ventures, Aspiration Growth Opportunities, and others.

In March of 2016, both Boyko's publicly launched Embark with a talk at South by Southwest[3]. The company's dog DNA test kits were then covered by The Verge in March of 2016 and The Today Show[4] in May of 2016, followed by various other publications including Bloomberg, Mashable, and more[5].

The company raised $4.5 million in seed funding in the summer of 2017; Founder Collective led the round, with participation from Freestyle Capital, ThirdKind, Bill Maris' Section 32, 23andMe Founder Anne Wojcicki, and SV Angel. The new was covered by several media outlets including TechCrunch and the Boston Business Journal.

Research

With the backing of National Geographic, the National Science Foundation, and others, the Boyko's began studying village dogs around the world in 2007, knowing that these dogs were instrumental in uncovering the story of all dogs. They traveled to over 40 countries on every inhabited continent to perform canine research. In the United States, Adam's laboratory has analyzed nearly 5,000 DNA samples from the Cornell Veterinary Biobank and succeeded in finding new associations with hip dysplasia risk, colitis, body size, and fur shedding.

Controversies in Genetic Testing

For customers who do not opt out of participating in research, Embark uses their dog's genetic data to discover new genetic associations for diseases and traits. There have been privacy concerns about these practices in human consumer DNA testing companies and at Embark[6]. Additionally, concerns have been expressed about whether pet owners will be able to fully understand their dogs' results. Embark responded to those concerns by providing contact from a veterinarian for difficult results and by offering a "vet report" for customers to share with veterinarians to discuss concerns.

In July of 2017, Embark claimed they had tested tens of thousands of dogs on their array and were beginning to make important genetic discoveries using their database. In January of 2018, Embark published a reprint of their first genetic study, the gene causing blue eyes in Huskies[7]. Embark and others claim that dog's artificial selection in human environments makes them ideally suited for models of genetic research for diseases in dogs and humans.

Products and Services

For dog owners

Canine genetic testing can identify exactly which breeds are in a dog and whether a dog is predisposed to any of over 165 health conditions. A dog's estimated weight is also calculated along with genetic age. Testing can also help trace ancestors back 15,000 years.

For breeders

Embark testing is available to help breeders ensure that their litters are healthy. It offers insight to help breed for particular coat color, size, or coat texture, and to ensure the best genetic health for future dogs.

Awards

In 2016, Embark won the Austin A-List Award for the hottest early age startup. In 2017, Embark was the runner-up at the GSV Labs Boston Startup Challenge in the Digital Health vertical. In 2018, Embark won the Printing Industries of America Graphex Best Folding Carton award in conjunction with Sunset Press for the Mid-America Region and are now finalists for the National Competition. The company was also nominated for a NEVY award in the Consumer Product of the Year category.

Partnerships

Embark is a licensee and official research partner of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.