We Are Cortex | Kevin McBrearty

In the near future, we may be able to blow into a tube and instantly determine why we’re not feeling well today. Or flag the arrival of the next pandemic as passengers stroll through an airport. Or identify a nascent bird flu outbreak, providing time to quarantine sick birds, sparing millions of dollars and the lives of thousands of animals.

This kind of technology is seemingly right around the corner thanks to Cortex-based Varro Life Sciences and its scientists — scientists like Kevin McBrearty.

“I've always been passionate about my career, but I can say with full honesty that the work I'm doing with my brilliant colleagues will make a difference,” said McBrearty, Varro’s laboratory manager. “We can make the world healthier and safer.”

Varro is developing technology that’s essentially a “biomarker Breathalyzer,” a device that can monitor the air for the calling cards that identify viruses, bacteria, allergens or other exotic or dangerous compounds we may breathe in or out.

Having that kind of technology easily at the ready could stem the spread of fast-moving diseases in human and animal populations. It could speed the line in crowded emergency rooms as doctors quickly screen, diagnose and quarantine patients. It could cut the time between diagnosis and the administration of time-sensitive medications.

“We get to make the magic happen from the actual start, so it's extremely exciting,” McBrearty said. “It's what gets me out of bed in the morning.” 

McBrearty, who studied biochemistry and biotechnology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, has been on the Varro team since late 2024 after a career that included stops at Bayer and Monsanto. He counts Varro’s location in the Cortex innovation district as a major perk to his relatively new job.

Part of that comes from the collaborative environment among biotech startups that, as he puts it, have no trouble knocking on a neighbor’s door for a figurative cup of sugar — lab space or a specialized piece of equipment. Then there’s the resources and logistical support from the staff at Cortex and CIC St. Louis.

‘They feel invested in us, not just as a tenant, but as a part of the community,” he said. “I wouldn't have been able to do my job as well without all the amazing support.”

McBrearty also confesses to having a favorite pastime while he’s at work: Bumping into scientists from other startups in the district and asking about their research that day. “There are so many amazing companies here, startups creating avenues of science. I mean, they're pushing the envelope. For the next wave of biotech, it's amazing.”

We Are Cortex celebrates the individuals who power our vibrant district. Join us on Tuesday, October 28, for #WeAreCortex – an inspiring and interactive event highlighting the thinkers, builders, creators, and doers who are shaping the future of St. Louis and beyond. Click here to learn more and RSVP!