Dave Fardo, PhD, and Pete Nelson, MD, PhD, professor and director of the neuropathology division of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in UK’s College of Medicine (USA), are co-investigators on a project focusing on how genetic factors contribute to dementia. The work was recently awarded funding from the National Institute on Aging that will total more than $1.7 million. The recently funded project, le by Director Nelson of the Neuropathology Core at UK's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), utilizes data sourced from various ADRCs across the U.S., alongside other dementia research consortia. The project will delve into the exploration of connections between genetic factors and dementia-related pathologies, by using existing and developing novel data analytics. The goal is to leverage the team’s genetic discoveries and innovative statistical approaches to delineate the physiological pathways implicated in disease progression.
The anticipated outcomes encompass various levels of analysis, ranging from methodological advancements, particularly concerning the refinement of individual-specific molecular interaction networks and the translation of pathway insights derived from them. Additionally, the research aims to yield practical implications at the medical level by identifying actionable pathways relevant to the management and care of dementia.
Join us on the frontier of genomic medicine as we unlock new possibilities for precision healthcare:
Research suggests that a systems-oriented approach and the integration of omics data are promising strategies for uncovering molecular subtypes and elucidating pathways involved in complex diseases, such as dementia. By analyzing high-dimensional omics datasets in a systems biology framework, we will identify molecular signatures associated with (different subtypes of) dementia. This integrative approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of the complex molecular mechanisms underlying the disease, possibly including gene expression changes, protein interactions, and metabolic dysregulation. Furthermore, by considering the interconnectedness of biological pathways and networks, we aim to identify key nodes and pathways dysregulated in specific subtypes of dementia, paving the way for targeted therapeutic interventions and precision medicine approaches.
The team of Prof. Dr. Dr. Kristel Van Steen (BIO3) at the University of Liège in Belgium will spearhead targeted pathway analyses building on network-oriented techniques developed in the group, such as individual-specific network methodology. Individual-specific networks enable linking of an individual to their unique molecular network, comprising of node values and (weighted) connections between nodes tailored to that individual. As a consequence, these networks offer personalized insights into an individual’s molecular makeup and interactions. The project’s activities in the BIO3 research group will be carried out in close collaboration with the University of Kentucky (USA): Dr. Yuriko Katsumata, a research assistant professor in biostatistics, leads efforts to develop novel methodologies for genetic epidemiology data exploration. Additionally, Dr. Mark Ebbert, an assistant professor of biomedical informatics, specializes in investigating historically challenging regions of the human genome. Together we aim to enhance our understanding of individual health profiles, potentially leading to more targeted precision health strategies in dementia.