Dementia Consortium funds Manchester-based team targeting immune system in search for new dementia treatments
Team led by Dr David Brough awarded £191,757 by public-private initiative driving early-stage drug discovery programmes.
The Dementia Consortium, a public-private partnership initiative bridging the gap between academic research and the pharmaceutical industry, is supporting a project led by Dr David Brough at the University of Manchester to develop novel therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease targeting the immune system. This is the fifth project supported by the Dementia Consortium, and has been awarded £191,757 by the initiative.
The University of Manchester team will be working in collaboration with drug development experts at MRC Technology’s Centre for Therapeutics Discovery (CTD) to alter inflammatory processes as a means to attempt to reduce the spread of nerve cell damage in Alzheimer’s disease. The brain's immune system has long been implicated as a key factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, and it now appears that a malfunctioning immune system may attack the brain and nerve cells, contributing to the damage commonly seen in Alzheimer’s patients.
This project will develop compounds to target a particular component of inflammasomes called NLRP3, which is thought to be a main contributor to the nerve cell damage seen in Alzheimer’s disease. Targeting NLRP3 should reduce inflammatory processes triggered by the inflammasome, thereby reducing damage occurring to nerve cells in the brain. Dr Brough is working with experts at MRC Technology to modify and refine these early stage compounds.
Dr David Brough, Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester, said: “I have always been intrigued by the immune system – it is one of the most complicated systems in our bodies, and combined with our most complex organ, the brain, creates the ultimate enigma for scientists to crack. By shifting our focus to understanding how the immune system goes astray in Alzheimer’s my team has identified a potential way to bring this system back on track and halt the damage being triggered in the brain. The support of the Dementia Consortium is pivotal in allowing us to translate our findings so that they may provide real benefit to all those whose lives are touched by Alzheimer’s disease.”
Justin Bryans, Director, Drug Discovery at MRC Technology, said: “MRC Technology’s CTD has proven capability in drug discovery, and is responsible for accessing early stage molecular targets emerging from academic research, to address the most urgent medical needs. As part of the Dementia Consortium initiative we have the opportunity to increase our reach further, working on projects such as this with the aim of translating promising science into effective treatments for patients.”
Dr David Reynolds, Chief Scientific Officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “There are 850,000 people currently living with dementia in the UK, and with this number set to grow to over a million people by 2025, we urgently need new treatments for the condition. Dementia is perhaps our greatest medical challenge and it requires a concerted response in order to tackle it effectively. The Dementia Consortium brings together expertise and enthusiasm from partners across charity and industry to support talented scientists like David Brough.”
Related News
-
News CPHI Frankfurt 2022: Innovator Interview – DSM Biomedical
At CPHI Frankfurt we spoke to Anne-Cecile Bayne, Global Science & Innovation Lead Pharma and Medical Nutrition, and Marc Hendriks, Vice President Strategy & Business Development, on their expertise in nitrosamines and business strategy at DSM Biomedica... -
News New WHO health emergency guidelines expect full transparency from Big Pharma
The WHO are proposing a new set of pandemic guidelines to set out how future global health crises should be handled. -
News Magic mushrooms could be used to treat mental health conditions
A compound found in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, could be used to treat mental health conditions and help patients suffering with severe depression, as shown by the results of the largest study of its kind to date. -
News UK-based partnership to launch DETERMINE study into rare cancer research
UK-based CRO Quanticate is set to partner with Cancer Research UK for the launch of the DETERMINE study focused on testing a range of existing and approved drugs and therapies on rare cancers. -
News FDA approves Thermo Fisher blood tests for wheat and sesame allergies
Both tests have been approved by the US regulator for in vitro diagnostic use -
News QIAGEN launches world’s first syndromic test for monkeypox
The test can distinguish between monkeypox and other diseases that cause similar symptoms. -
News Monkeypox Update: Vaccine shortage, sewage surveillance and global testing
As concern over the monkeypox outbreak continues to rise, we take a look at major developments from the first week of August. -
News CPHI Podcast Series: The importance of novel excipients for innovative drug development
The latest episode in the CPHI Podcast Series dives into the world of novel excipients and explores their importance for innovative drug development.
Position your company at the heart of the global Pharma industry with a CPHI Online membership
-
Your products and solutions visible to thousands of visitors within the largest Pharma marketplace
-
Generate high-quality, engaged leads for your business, all year round
-
Promote your business as the industry’s thought-leader by hosting your reports, brochures and videos within your profile
-
Your company’s profile boosted at all participating CPHI events
-
An easy-to-use platform with a detailed dashboard showing your leads and performance