BOCA RATON, Fla. — VILAS Ventures has announced its investment in the $13.5 million Series A3 financing round for CND Life Sciences, a diagnostics company advancing tools for the detection of neurodegenerative diseases. The investment will support the expansion of CND’s flagship product, the Syn-One Test®, and further research and development efforts aimed at improving early diagnosis of conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.
CND’s Syn-One Test is the first commercially available skin-based diagnostic that detects abnormal alpha-synuclein, a key protein implicated in a range of synucleinopathies. The test offers clinicians an objective method to visualize and quantify disease markers, addressing a major challenge in diagnosing neurodegenerative disorders. A 2024 study published in JAMA demonstrated the test’s 95.5% sensitivity across multiple alpha-synuclein-related conditions.
To date, more than 35,000 Syn-One Tests have been processed, and nearly 3,000 neurologists across the U.S. are using the technology. The company has grown rapidly under the leadership of CEO Rick Morello, who joined in 2020 with over 25 years of healthcare industry experience. His previous leadership roles include Global President at Aptus Health and CEO of Plasma Surgical.
“Neurodegenerative diseases remain among the most urgent unmet needs in medicine,” said Daniel Livschutz, Managing Partner at VILAS Ventures. “CND’s Syn-One Test combines cutting-edge pathology and artificial intelligence to provide diagnostic clarity not only for clinicians but also for biopharma companies working to advance targeted therapies. We’re proud to support their mission at a critical moment of growth.”
Livschutz also noted the personal significance of the investment, sharing that a family member had endured years of misdiagnosis before receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis. He said that earlier access to objective tools like the Syn-One Test could have significantly improved the experience.
This investment marks VILAS Ventures’ fourth healthcare deal in the past year, following partnerships with Cortechs.ai, Roshal Health, and JSCM Group. The firm focuses on late-stage growth equity and debt financing for founder-led healthcare companies, particularly those offering technology-enabled solutions in diagnostics, software, and clinical services.
The new funding will enable CND Life Sciences to scale the commercial availability of the Syn-One Test and accelerate its pipeline of next-generation diagnostics aimed at improving the standard of care for patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
