"This grant will enable the most expansive screening effort to date for compounds targeting Alzheimer's disease."
Dr. Damian Young, an investigator at Texas Children's Duncan Neurological Research Institute and director of the Center for Drug Discovery at Baylor College of Medicine, along with collaborators, has received a $6.7 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The funding will support the development of new approaches for identifying potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Project Details
The five-year project brings together experts in chemistry, artificial intelligence, and translational science. The team will use DNA-encoded chemical libraries to screen hundreds of millions of compounds simultaneously. Each compound carries a unique DNA "barcode" to identify interactions with proteins linked to Alzheimer's.
Key Components
- Large-scale screening: The project will screen more than 900 million unique compounds, representing the most expansive screening effort for Alzheimer's to date.
- AI and machine learning: These tools will analyze data to predict which compounds are most likely to succeed.
- Drug repurposing: Researchers will also explore whether existing drugs can be repurposed for Alzheimer's.
- Open science: Data and compounds generated will be shared publicly to enable global research.
Oversight and Collaboration
An internal advisory board consisting of Drs. Huda Zoghbi, Joshua Shulman, Hugo Bellen, and Juan Botas (Texas Children's and Baylor faculty) will provide expertise in prioritizing protein targets implicated in Alzheimer's disease. The Structural Genomics Consortium will provide critical protein targets.
Significance
According to Dr. Young, the work is intended to reduce the time from early discovery to viable drug candidates, bringing potential therapies to patients faster.
The research reflects Texas Children's commitment to bridging pediatric and adult neurological research. Insights from pediatric brain development may inform understanding of neurodegenerative disease, and vice versa.