Science SME works globally to bring nutrition to Harlow

Team Gene started their journey through the Arise ecosystem by becoming virtual occupants and currently benefiting from the Arise coworking space in the Harlow Hub.

 

Team Gene are a genetic interpretation company, supporting athletes to optimise their health with nutrition. Karen Harrison, the director of Team Gene, has over 10 years’ experience in the nutrition and genetic industry and has more than 6,500hrs of clinic consultations. Karen started with Arise as a virtual member, taking advantage of a postal address and meeting room hire, and then with a little help from Arise, progressed into the coworking room, with her own desk.

 

Karen is working in collaboration with an Australian company, Activating Probiotics. Their products are supported by use in clinical trials and target specific aspects of health, including immunity and mood. They currently have no presence in the UK. Over a number of months, it has given Karen the opportunity to stock their goods in her office space, to support them and her clients. Karen has also been asked to write a chapter on sports genetics for a currently untitled book, with publication in schools and universities in November 2024.

 

Karen commented: “Not only has Arise helped me to pursue and further Team Gene, it has given me the physical space and the head space to be able to contribute to other projects. This includes a book chapter, collaborating with Activating probiotics and encouraging more teaching opportunities.”

 

She continued: “The Arise office space has made me look more professional. I wouldn’t have been able to host Activating Probiotics when they visited without it. It’s allowed me to contribute and help another company, enabling Activating Probiotics to grow into the UK.”

 

Karen also teaches at CNM, the College of Natural Medicine. She is a lead supervisor of year 2 clinical supervision. Karen teaches research, genetics, nutrition, women’s health and lectures online and throughout the UK. On her love of teaching, Karen commented: “I love seeing students having that ‘Ah-ha’ moment, when they understand why and how something works. It’s the joy of seeing other people ‘get it’. You can just see it in their face.”

 

You can meet Karen at an event she is hosting at Arise Innovation Hubs in Harlow on 6 March, 10-2pm. It is a free seminar on ‘The oral & GI microbiome and women’s health: A bidirectional relationship.’ Activated Probiotics' European Practitioner Consultant Yuwa Aghedo and Science & Education Support Karen Harrison explores the dynamics of the microbiome during different stages of life. To book, take a look at our events page.