An interview with Eric Kaufman, COO of Endocanna Health.
As he recounts his personal and professional journey, Eric Kaufman, Chief Operations Officer of Endocanna Health, describes himself as a bit of a jack of all trades. With experience in technology, toy and food manufacturing, and product development he brings a diverse range of experience to his role. When asked what he does as COO, Eric says:
Eric Kaufman: “Well it entails both vision and actualization…vision to visualize and help our company and…product value propositions.,,. It’s everything from overseeing product development, [to] all things technical including fixing the robot vacuum when it has a meltdown… which is lying upside down on the floor right now. So basically like a division of labor between me and Len and we try our best to allocate management of the key areas between the two of us.”
Eric got his start in the technology industry and has spent most of his career fine-tuning his business skills across a diverse range of industries. He says:
Eric Kaufman: “I started in information technology translation, which is understanding how to deploy technology and how to translate technology. That’s kind of how the intersections happened here…I spent significant time in my career translating software requirements and specs to software engineers…So the challenge [at Endocanna Health] was taking our genetic scientist’s research and communicating how to translate that information through software technology.”
Getting a crash course in genetics.
Without a background in health or medicine, Eric set to work learning everything he could about bioinformatics. He put himself through a crash course in genetics in order to meet the challenge of developing a computer super chip that could analyze DNA markers and match those markers with individual endocompatibility.
The super chip is designed to analyze single nucleotide polymorphisms, also known as SNPs (pronounced “snips”). SNPs are the most common form of genetic variation among people and they occur commonly throughout a person’s DNA. Researchers have found SNPs that may help predict an individual’s response to specific drugs and supplements, susceptibility to environmental toxins, and the risk of developing particular diseases.
When designing the super chip, Eric not only wanted to analyze SNPs related to endocompatibility but a host of other health and wellness indicators, like susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder, risk for opioid dependence and food intolerances.
Designing the Endo·dna Superchip.
“So the first thing we did was to identify what areas of DNA you want to analyze and study and that will offer the greatest benefit for our customers and the medical community… the first step is we reached out to our scientific team and our Advisory Board scientists and got what I call “the biomarker wish list”…this is every conceivable biomarker that they may want to look at now and in the future.”
From there, Eric and the Endocanna Health team developed the super chip and its unique algorithm.
When asked what he’s most proud of, Eric responds,
“Well, I think I’m proud of how far we’ve come in such a short period of time. But then I also think I’m most proud of the fact that other genetic companies have indicated that they’ve attempted this and failed. I guess we just figured it out. We just went down the road.”
With the launch of an upgraded mydna.live online portal, where customers can access over 25 new health and wellness reports, along with personalized information about CBD and cannabis, he has a lot to be proud of. Eric says he’s most excited about the fact that Endocanna Health is pioneering new forms of personalized medicine, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Thinking about the future.
Eric and the team continue to refine the portal and add more personalized health information as it becomes available. Their goal is to create a single online health dashboard where customers can view all their health data, including things like lab reports, and data from wearables in addition to their genetic information.
As Endocanna Health continues to push the boundaries of genetics and cannabinoids Eric says,
“I’m a jack of all trades, but I love this because I love helping people. I get probably the most satisfaction out of this rather than anything I’ve ever done, even though this is probably the most challenging thing I’ve ever done. That’s because I love hearing somebody say, “I don’t wake up in pain anymore”, or “I couldn’t function before and now I’m able to function or I’m sleeping better.”
With his can-do attitude, a diverse range of business experience, and passion for helping others, Eric is the right man for the job as COO. As he and the Endocanna Health team push the boundaries of genetic research and DNA testing, customers will continue to receive unparalleled insight into their own health and wellness.
To start your own journey with Endocanna Health’s breakthrough DNA click here.
Endocanna Health is a biotechnology company committed to helping consumers find the right cannabinoid products to enhance their health and wellness. Using our breakthrough DNA test, Endo·dna, we empower you to take control of your health with access to over 55 different health reports that include suggestions for the best CBD and cannabis products that match your unique genetic code. Visit us here to find out more!
