Bryan Johnson, a biohacker tech founder and wealthy entrepreneur, is pushing for the standardization of full-body MRIs to help in the early detection of health conditions. His go-to provider is the New York-based startup, Ezra, which utilizes artificial intelligence to speed up the process.

Ezra has recently announced a fresh cash injection of $21 million in venture funding, bringing its total funding to $41 million. The company is now reportedly valued at between $100 million and $150 million. Their service allows users to access regular, full-body scans, which promise to detect potential health conditions such as cancer and bladder stones early enough for effective treatment. The primary target market for these scans is wealthy individuals working primarily in tech and what the company describes as the ‘cancer conscious’.

While many view these scans as a proactive step in early disease detection, medical experts raise concerns over the potential for unnecessary over-treatment and over-diagnosis, the high cost of mainly unnecessary follow-up procedures and the psychological impact of false positives on patients.

Matthew Davenport, a radiologist and a professor at the University of Michigan, argues that the assumption that early detection equals better survival rates is flawed, as not all cancers are the same. A significant percentage of cancers are indolent, meaning they have a very low chance of metastasis or reducing a patient’s life expectancy.

In response to false positive critiques, Ezra offers a follow-up diagnostic exam outsourced to the patient’s regular doctor. The company does not own any MRI machines; instead, it partners with existing radiology centers, such as Radnet, to offer its AI-enhanced scanning service.

Ezra’s ultimate goal is to lower the cost of a 15-minute scan to around $500, which they aim to achieve within two years. This is dependent on further development and adoption of AI in the scanning process. Ezra’s founders see AI as a key differentiator, reducing time in the scanner, and a win both for patients and clinics.

Source: Meet The Bryan Johnson-Approved AI Full Body MRI Startup That Just Raised $21 Million.