MJFF grant supports AI-driven Parkinson’s research
Using artificial intelligence to find therapies targeting the root causes of disease
The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) has awarded a grant to Valo Health to support the development of new treatments targeting the underlying causes of Parkinson’s disease.
The funding will allow researchers to use artificial intelligence to uncover the root causes of the disease and identify new drug targets, focusing on a gene called NOD2. This work could pave the way for a new generation of therapies that slow or stop disease progression, rather than simply managing symptoms.
Valo is part of a consortium working together to better understand the role of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2 (NOD2), a gene identified as a risk factor for Parkinson’s, and assess its potential as a new drug target.
“This collaboration with the Michael J. Fox Foundation is an exciting opportunity to deepen our collective understanding of Parkinson’s disease,” Brian Alexander, MD, CEO at Valo, said in a company press release. “Valo’s expertise in human causal biology using human genetics and real-world data allows us to unravel the heterogeneity and complexity of human disease, leading to a better understanding of targets for therapeutic exploration, like NOD2 in Parkinson’s.”
Targets to Therapies Initiative
The grant is part of the foundation’s Targets to Therapies Initiative, which aims to expand the number of targets amenable to therapeutic intervention for Parkinson’s.
“The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s single, urgent goal remains to find better therapies and a cure for people and families with Parkinson’s. Expanding the number of well-characterized, druggable targets is a critical part of the puzzle,” said Shalini Padmanabhan, PhD, senior vice president and head of translational research at the foundation. “We are encouraged by the field-wide collaboration and open-science approach to target validation in Parkinson’s disease, including through Valo’s participation in studying key gaps related to NOD2 as a therapeutic target option to slow down disease progression.”
NOD2, the protein produced by the NOD2 gene, is part of the larger family of NOD-like receptors. These receptors act as sensors within cells to detect danger signals and launch innate immune responses. Previous research has linked NOD2 to the death of dopamine-producing nerve cells, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease.
Now, Valo aims to clarify connections between NOD2 and associated pathways that may link Parkinson’s and autoimmune diseases. The company will use its expertise to analyze immune and central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) cells. The goal is to identify effective strategies for modulating NOD2 that could influence the progression and severity of Parkinson’s.
Valo’s novel approach to drug discovery starts with real-world data and human preclinical models to better understand the causal biology in human disease. The company has access to comprehensive, real-world outcomes from more than 17 million patients, some of whom have genomic data and patient histories spanning more than 20 years.
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