Artificial intelligence for dementia drug discovery and trials optimization.

Journal: Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association
Published Date:

Abstract

Drug discovery and clinical trial design for dementia have historically been challenging. In part these challenges have arisen from patient heterogeneity, length of disease course, and the tractability of a target for the brain. Applying big data analytics and machine learning tools for drug discovery and utilizing them to inform successful clinical trial design has the potential to accelerate progress. Opportunities arise at multiple stages in the therapy pipeline and the growing availability of large medical data sets opens possibilities for big data analyses to answer key questions in clinical and therapeutic challenges. However, before this goal is reached, several challenges need to be overcome and only a multi-disciplinary approach can promote data-driven decision-making to its full potential. Herein we review the current state of machine learning applications to clinical trial design and drug discovery, while presenting opportunities and recommendations that can break down the barriers to implementation.

Authors

  • Thomas Doherty
    Eisai Europe Ltd, Hatfield, UK.
  • Zhi Yao
    LifeArc, Stevenage, UK.
  • Ahmad A L Khleifat
    Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
  • Hanz Tantiangco
    Information School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
  • Stefano Tamburin
    Neurology Section, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
  • Chris Albertyn
    Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
  • Lokendra Thakur
    Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
  • David J Llewellyn
    University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom.
  • Neil P Oxtoby
    UCL Centre for Medical Image Computing and Department of Computer Science, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK.
  • Ilianna Lourida
    University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK.
  • Janice M Ranson
    University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom.
  • James A Duce
    The ALBORADA Drug Discovery Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.