Institute of EthnoMedicine

The Institute of EthnoMedicine is a non-profit research organization dedicated to discovering new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases through the study of indigenous populations and environmental toxins. Based in Jackson, Wyoming, and operating the Brain Chemistry Labs, the institute is best known for its research into the cyanobacterial toxin BMAA and its role in triggering ALS, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases. Their lead therapeutic candidate is L-serine, a naturally occurring amino acid hypothesized to prevent the misincorporation of BMAA into human proteins. The institute has successfully advanced L-serine into Phase 2 clinical trials for ALS and is actively investigating its potential in other tauopathies. By combining ethnobotany with modern molecular biology, the organization seeks to identify novel pathways for drug discovery.