WASHINGTON - s4story -- Today, IndyGeneUS AI was named an awardee of the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Veterans Lead QuickFire Challenge: Innovations by Vets.

Johnson & Johnson Innovation, together with Bunker Labs, a national nonprofit organization that aims to equip the military-connected community with the network, tools, and opportunities needed to launch and grow successful businesses, invited U.S. Veteran innovators and military spouses/legal partners to submit potentially ground-breaking ideas in all aspects of human healthcare.

The black-owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small Business (SDVOSB), IndyGeneUS AI, pitched their cutting-edge blockchain-encrypted and machine learning-powered bioinformatics "GenēUS™ Discovery Platform" to a panel of judges, which included both Johnson & Johnson Innovation and Bunker Labs executives.

"It's extremely important that we support the visions of our veterans," says Lenore Karafa, Board Member President of Bunker Labs. "I was excited to learn about the mission of IndyGeneUS AI, during their pitch and the hard work and dedication they are pouring into eradicating health disparities."

More on S For Story

• Contracting Resources Group Receives 2025 HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor
• Stay Connected Cell Service Optional
• Kateryna Dronova Release New Children's Picture Book - Azuzu Saves the Day
• Aristata Press Announces the Release of Feeding the Enemy: Soviet Women in Nazi Labor Camps in Norway by Liv Mjelde
• Crunchbase Ranks Phinge Founder & CEO Robert DeMaio #1 Globally. Meet him in Las Vegas-Week of CES to Learn About Netverse, Patented App-less Platform

IndyGeneUS AI is a precision genomics company aiming to create the world's largest blockchain-encrypted digital health platform of indigenous and diasporic African clinical and genomic data. Using proprietary technology, IndyGeneUS AI can potentially detect novel signature sequences, identify biomarkers, and calculate polygenic risk scores by integrating multi-omics data, electronic health record (EHR) data, and other textual information such as scientific manuscripts.

"This is literally a dream come true, and a bit nostalgic," said IndyGeneUS AI Founder, Yusuf Henriques. "Today, IndyGeneUS AI has its first lab set up at JLABS @ Washington, DC at Children's National new Research and Innovation Campus, on the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus. A site where I walked the halls as a combat medic in the U.S. Army, over 20-years ago. Now, I have an opportunity to identify novel cell & gene therapies that will hopefully address health disparities and rare diseases like retinitis pigmentosa (RP), which my twin daughters were diagnosed with in 2014.  This is my opportunity to deliver on the promise that I made my girls to find better treatment options or a cure."

To aid in this mission, IndyGeneUS AI will provide workforce economic development to engage minority young men and women who desire to learn more about genomics and driving precision care through careers in biotech.

More on S For Story

• Renowned Nutritionist and Alternative Medicine Specialist Dr. Sebi and His Method of Treating Disease Are the Focus of New Book
• IODefi Introduces New Web3 Infrastructure Framework as XRP Ledger Development Gains Global Attention
• Terizza Forms Strategic Collaboration with UC San Diego to Pioneer Next-Generation Distributed AI Infrastructure
• EnergyStrat Launches Global LNG Risk Outlook 2025–2030
• Strong Revenue Gains, Accelerating Growth, Strategic Hospital Expansion & Uplisting Advancements: Cardiff Lexington Corporation (Stock Symbol: CDIX)

In addition to being awarded the QuickFire Challenge, IndyGeneUS AI officially became a resident at JLABS @ Washington, DC on May 1st. IndyGeneUS AI has a strong commitment to driving precision health equity. Ninety percent of IndyGenUS' executive leadership and advisors are Howard University Alumni. The company will focus on whole genome sequencing which utilizes multiple next-generation DNA sequencing platforms and methodologies to identify genetic drivers of conditions disproportionately impacting Black, Brown, and Indigenous populations.

"We are leveraging genetic diversity via large-scale whole-genome sequencing to advance the understanding of the causes of human biology, health, and disease," said Dr. Bradford Wilson, IndyGeneUS AI -Chief Scientific Officer. "This will lay the foundation for precision therapeutics to reduce or eliminate health disparities globally."

For more information about IndyGeneUS AI visit: https://indygeneus.ai. For media inquiries contact: Angel Livas at angel@indygeneus.ai.