Project to create AI model for ALS receives G茅nome Qu茅bec funding
$400,000 will fuel public-private collaboration to discover new disease biomarkers
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A new project co-led by Thomas Durcan, PhD, Director of The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit, and overseen by Mathilde Chaineau, PhD, the EDDU鈥檚 program manager, will receive $400,000 in support from G茅nome Qu茅bec. In partnership with Nardin Nakhla and Armstrong Murira from the Montreal-based company Simmunome, Durcan and听Chaineau will develop a computational model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on which to test for new biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Using cells donated by ALS patients, the team will transfer genomic data related to the disease into the computer model, where they will be analyzed using artificial intelligence tools to find patterns within the data. The team hopes to find unique signatures of ALS, called biomarkers. The impact of therapeutics on these biomarkers can then be tested to assess whether the therapies may benefit ALS patients. In this way, the project will contribute to the improvement of clinical trials and to the reduction of costs related to the development of treatments for ALS.
鈥淐ombining our ALS patient-derived cells with Simmunone鈥檚 AI expertise will help us lay the groundwork towards identifying biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets not possible through conventional approaches, essential to foster the development of new treatments for this devastating disease,鈥� said Prof. Durcan.
This funding is part of a more than $4.4-million investment by G茅nome Qu茅bec for genomic solutions in health.
鈥淕enomics plays a key role in the future of healthcare,鈥� said St茅phanie Lord-Fontaine, PhD, Vice-President of Scientific Affairs at G茅nome Qu茅bec. 鈥淭hrough these projects, we are investing in research and innovation, to deliver more precise, patient-centered solutions. This support enables the research community to explore new approaches which, in the long term, could have a direct impact on the quality of care and the overall health of the population.鈥�
About G茅nome Qu茅bec
G茅nome Qu茅bec鈥檚 mission is to catalyze the development and excellence of genomics research and promote its integration and democratization. It is a pillar of the Qu茅bec bioeconomy and contributes to Qu茅bec鈥檚 influence and its social and sustainable development. The funds invested by G茅nome Qu茅bec are provided by the minist猫re de l'脡conomie, de l'Innovation et de l鈥櫭塶ergie du Qu茅bec (MEIE), the government of Canada, through Genome Canada, and private partners. To learn more, visit .