Deep scientific analysis
of rare disease genes

We study what the affected gene does in the cell and develop evidence-based hypotheses about what might help – so you can discuss them with your clinicians.

We can also help connect you with relevant research groups.

Scientific services only. No medical advice or treatment recommendations.

How we help rare disease families since 2024

We consolidate what science currently knows about your gene and translate it into usable next steps.

Understand the gene

We place the gene in its pathway and summarise evidence from patients, model systems and experiments, including approaches tested to influence the mechanism.

Connect the evidence

We connect the dots across studies to build a clear picture of the disease and what it means for your gene and variant – highlighting the findings most relevant to your case.

Possible ways to help

We outline possible ways to influence the disease mechanism and summarise them in a structured report, with rationale and supporting references for each.

Research connections

We help connect families with researchers worldwide working on the relevant gene or mechanism, turning promising evidence into real research initiatives.

Your gene analysis report

Clear scientific basis

We clarify the most likely molecular mechanisms and highlight the research approaches that look most promising so far.

Focus: mechanism + evidence

Case-specific synthesis

We consolidate and prioritise what matters for your gene and variant, connecting results across studies into a clear picture.

Focus: your variant

Structured report

You receive a structured report with rationale and references linked to each key point, so you can track every claim to its source.

Focus: traceable references

Follow-up meeting included

After delivery, you speak directly with scientists. We walk you through our key findings and answer your questions.

60-min call

Pricing and turnaround time

Each gene analysis is an in-depth, case-specific scientific review. Pricing depends on how much research exists for the gene; reports start from €1,000. Turnaround is confirmed after we review your case.


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Thanks to LumiRare, our family finally has hope for effective therapy.

What families say

  • From trial-and-error to a pathway-informed approach
    We came to LumiRare with a genetic finding in our daughter and almost no usable information about it. LumiRare helped us move from trial-and-error to a pathway-informed approach by mapping the variant to the biological pathways it affects and highlighting an anti-epileptic drug mechanism that could modulate the gene’s function, supported by the literature.

    We discussed the findings with our daughter's physician, and after a medically supervised change, we observed a clear improvement. For the first time, the data formed a coherent picture that allowed us to move forward with confidence.

    Anna

    Anna
  • Evidence that helped us connect with mitochondrial specialists in Paris
    Our son carries an undescribed variant linked to a mitochondrial disorder. LumiRare combined computational predictions with mitochondrial complex activity measurements from an external laboratory and identified a likely metabolic vulnerability. With this evidence and the supporting literature, LumiRare connected us with mitochondrial disease clinicians in Paris.

    Under their medical supervision, we began a methionine-based supplementation protocol. For the first time in our journey, the data came together into a coherent picture with clear next steps.

    Karolina

    Karolina
  • From community questions to PIGV-focused research

    Working with LumiRare gave our community a shared, science-based understanding of the cellular mechanisms described in the literature on glycosylation-related genes, including our PIGV. This common framework helped us align our initiatives and fundraising around research priorities grounded in biology – not assumptions. Importantly, it also helped us identify concrete, testable therapeutic directions, and this work has now started within a research programme at the IIMCB in Warsaw.

    LumiRare helped us speak the language of science together and turn it into action.

    Anna Gajdzik, CDG GPI Polska

    Anna Gajdzik, CDG GPI Polska
  • From an 80+ page report to a specialist consultation in Tübingen

    We ordered the report unsure what to expect. What we received was an 80+ page analysis grounded in peer-reviewed literature, far beyond what we could have assembled on our own. LumiRare connected fragmented data into a coherent biological picture around our gain-of-function variant in a potassium channel.

    Furthermore, LumiRare connected us with clinicians at the University Hospital in Tübingen – pioneers in the care of channelopathy-related epilepsies. A follow-up video consultation with LumiRare's scientists helped us better understand the most realistic paths forward.

    Ewelina

    Ewelina

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

More ways we can help

Follow-on support for next research steps and ongoing updates

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We contact labs for you

We identify relevant researchers already working on your gene or condition and reach out on your behalf. We manage the correspondence and help interpret responses or shared findings.

Pricing: invidual

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Monthly research updates

A monthly, curated update on new scientific publications for your selected gene – filtered for relevance to your variant and case context, so you do not have to track and read the literature yourself.

€25/month · minimum 3 months

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Private research lead

For families privately funding research, we can act as your dedicated scientific lead. We design a research plan, select and coordinate external labs/companies to run experiments, and integrate results to guide the next steps.

Pricing: individual

FOR CLINICIANS

Molecular insights beyond standard variant annotations

  • Mechanism-first synthesis: gene/variant mapped to cellular pathways and molecular function, with key references and rationale.

  • Testable hypotheses: plausible disease mechanisms, plus suggested readouts and what each outcome would mean.

  • Research planning + proposal support: a prioritized research workplan, including selection of suitable labs and service providers, along a a proposal-ready plan if needed.

If a case looks research-ready, academic collaboration may be possible through our home institute.

We complement clinical care; we do not provide medical diagnosis or treatment.


About us

Scientist-led rare disease analysis – for families and clinicians

Led by active researchers • Peer-reviewed track record • Global research network

Wojciech Pokrzywa photo

Wojciech Pokrzywa, PhD, DSc

Founder & CEO

Head, Laboratory of Protein Metabolism, IIMCB (Warsaw)

  • PhD in Belgium, 8-year postdoctoral fellowship at the prestigious CECAD Institute, Germany

  • Studies how cells keep proteins healthy and what fails in genetic disease; uses C. elegans as a model organism

  • 45+ peer-reviewed publications and ~€3.6M in competitive research funding

Natalia Szulc photo

Natalia Szulc, MSc

Co-founder & CEO

PhD candidate, supervised by W. Pokrzywa, IIMCB (Warsaw)

  • Two Master’s degrees: in Molecular Biotechnology and Computational Engineering

  • Expertise in bioinformatics, computational modelling and machine learning for rare-disease research

  • 15+ peer-reviewed publications; Fulbright Scholar at Harvard Medical School

In our research, we collaborate with medical teams including groups from Mayo Clinic, University of Bonn, King Edward Memorial Hospital, and Medical University of Warsaw. Examples of genes we study at IIMCB: FEM1C PIGVMAPK1


 Frequently Asked Questions

What makes you stand out? Why should I choose you?

You’re hiring active scientists in rare-disease biology. LumiRare is led by Wojciech Pokrzywa, PhD, Head of the Laboratory of Protein Metabolism at International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, and co-led by Natalia Szulc, a researcher with expertise in bioinformatics, computational modelling, and machine learning for rare-disease research.

That matters because your gene analysis report is handled as academic-level work, not a quick summary: a rigorous, traceable evidence synthesis – closer to what scientists prepare for a review paper or grant proposal. We stay close to primary data, weigh the strength and limits of each study, and build a coherent, clinically usable picture rather than a generic gene description.

In parallel, our day-to-day research collaborations with medical teams, including groups from Mayo Clinic USA), University of Bonn (Germany), King Edward Memorial Hospital (Australia), and Medical University of Warsaw (Poland), keep our work grounded in real clinical questions and research realities.

What added value will I get from a LumiRare gene analysis report?

You’ll get a structured, evidence-based roadmap you can actually use – either to guide a focused discussion with your clinicians or as a starting point for follow-up scientific research. Alongside a clear gene overview (function, isoforms, tissue specificity, structure, regulation, and known disorders) and variant-specific context (what’s known about your exact variant and related ones, plus genotype–phenotype patterns), we synthesize the strongest research evidence across human data, model systems, and cell-based studies.

Importantly, our primary focus is identifying reported modulators – published factors that influence the gene product or its pathway – because these are often the most actionable leads for clinicians and researchers. We also flag potential cautions (e.g. factors reported to suppress the gene product or interfere with its biology), propose next-step experiments that could test the leading hypotheses (especially useful for VUS), and point you to relevant clinical trials, registries, and active labs.

Everything is delivered with a full reference list and a plain-language glossary so the report is both rigorous and usable.

What does it cost, how long does it take, and what affects the timeline for a gene analysis report?

A LumiRare gene analysis report is academic-level work, not a quick summary. It’s comparable to the rigorous evidence synthesis scientists produce when writing a review paper or a grant proposal.

Most reports take a few weeks, because the work involves reading broadly, cross-checking primary sources and databases, and building a coherent, evidence-based interpretation, not just “writing.” Timeline and pricing depend mainly on two factors: how extensive the scientific literature is for the gene in question, and how complex the case is (for example, single vs multiple variants and the amount of clinical context). Pricing starts from €1,000 per one gene, and the full analysis can take up to 2-3 months depending on publication volume and our current commitments.

If you have an upcoming appointment, we can provide a shorter, clinic-ready brief first, followed by the full report.

How is a LumiRare report different from asking an LLM (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.)?

LLMs are great for drafting and brainstorming, but they don’t reliably deliver the kind of careful, traceable evidence work that families and clinicians need. In a LumiRare report, every key statement is tied back to primary papers and trusted databases rather than “probable-sounding” text. We clearly separate what is well established from what is still a hypothesis or not supported, and we connect the evidence to the specific phenotype and testing context instead of producing a generic gene summary.

We also actively look for conflicting results, study limitations, and alternative explanations. The final report is built for real use: it’s structured to support a focused discussion with your clinician, including what to confirm next and what could realistically change the conclusions.

I’m an MD and I have a patient I believe could be a strong candidate for research. Can we collaborate?

We’re always open to collaborating with clinicians on cases that may benefit from deeper scientific follow-up. Our day-to-day work is based at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw (IIMCB), and in our research we collaborate with medical teams including groups from Mayo Clinic (USA), University of Bonn (Germany), King Edward Memorial Hospital (Australia), and Medical University of Warsaw (Poland). 

We can’t promise that a specific genetic finding will be taken up for research, but we’re happy to review it and assess whether it aligns with research interests in Wojciech Pokrzywa’s group or other teams within the IIMCB where we work. If there’s a genuine scientific fit and capacity, we may be able to pursue it as an academic research direction; if not, we will be transparent that it isn’t something we or our institute can take on. Please email us at contact@lumirare.com.

What do you need from me to start a LumiRare gene analysis report?

To start, we first need your genetic finding exactly as it appears on your test results (for example: the gene and variant, a deletion/duplication, or another chromosomal finding). Please also include how the lab classified it (pathogenic, likely pathogenic, VUS, etc.), your current diagnosis (if any), and who is affected (child or adult) along with your relation (parent/guardian/patient). You can send this to contact@lumirare.com. Inquiry is free.

At this stage, you don’t need to share any medical history. Once we receive your message, we assess whether we’re the right fit and reply with a proposed plan, pricing, and turnaround time.

If you don’t have genetic results yet, reach out once testing is complete – symptoms alone aren’t enough for a reliable scientific analysis.

Do you help if the variant is a VUS (Variant of Uncertain Significance)?

Yes. When a result comes back as a VUS, we start by mapping what’s already known, also about other relevant variants in the same gene. Even variants that look distant in the sequence can cluster in the same region of the folded protein in 3D and affect the same function, such as an interaction interface, stability, or regulation. This kind of careful evidence mapping helps narrow down the most plausible mechanisms.

From there, we propose practical, cost-effective next steps that could realistically reduce uncertainty. For proposed research directions, we prioritise approaches that are sensible, feasible, and cost-aware. Not every case benefits from expensive or slow models as a first step; often the best starting point is targeted functional readouts or cell-based assays that clarify the mechanism before any larger investment.

Can you help me connect with academic researchers working on my gene?

Yes. If you want support navigating the academic research landscape, we can help in two ways: we can identify relevant labs already working on your gene or condition and reach out on your behalf, and, if your family is privately funding research, we can act as a dedicated scientific lead to design a research plan, coordinate external labs or companies to run experiments, and integrate results to guide next steps.

To get started, email us at contact@lumirare.com with a short note on what kind of help you’re looking for.

Do you issue invoices?

Yes, we issue invoices for all our services.

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