The Centre for Research in Neurological Diseases (CIEN) is part of the FluiDx-AD consortium, an innovative project funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe programme, with a budget of 7.7 million euros over a period of three and a half years. It aims to transform early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease through minimally invasive and accessible tests. This initiative is aligned with CIEN's research and investment strategy in recent years, focused on the development of diagnostic tools and personalised therapies.
A Consortium of Scientific Excellence
Coordinated by Oslo University Hospital and led by Dr Erik Christensen, co-founder and CMO of Pre Diagnostics AS, FluiDx-AD brings together ten European institutions, including hospitals, research centres and technology companies. Its main goal is to develop a set of diagnostic tools based on saliva and blood samples, providing simpler and more affordable alternatives to current invasive methods, such as lumbar punctures and advanced neuroimaging.
Towards Faster and More Accurate Diagnosis
Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease can take more than a year, limiting early access to disease-modifying treatments. FluiDx-AD aims to speed up early detection through the development of three new diagnostic tests:
- SalivaDx-AD: An easy-to-use at-home saliva test for population screening and detection of early-stage Alzheimer's risk.
- PlasmaDx-AD: A highly accurate blood test to confirm the diagnosis in people with clinical, psychological or behavioural signs of Alzheimer's disease.
- BloodCellDx-AD: A blood test to assess the risk of adverse effects associated with new anti-amyloid drugs, which have recently begun to be used in the US and Europe.
Impact on Research and Emerging Treatments
In addition to improving detection, FluiDx-AD will contribute to the optimisation of clinical trials for new therapies, facilitating patient selection and reducing the risks of adverse effects related to amyloid accumulation in the brain.
An Internationally Supported Project
The FluiDx-AD consortium is composed of leading institutions in the study of Alzheimer's disease, including:
- Pre Diagnostics and Pre Neurolab: Scientific coordinators and developers of proprietary blood-based biomarkers for amyloid clearance.
- HemoDx: Developer of a device for saliva collection and biomarker extraction.
- Oslo University Hospital (project coordinator and data manager, with experience from the AI-Mind study).
- University of Helsinki and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Roma): Providers of clinical samples from established cohorts.
- CIEN, Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Neurológicas (Madrid): Will provide its biobank and clinical samples.
- Alzheimer Europe: Responsible for communication, public participation and ethical considerations.
- Medip Analytics: Developer of health technology assessment tools and liaison with regulatory bodies.
Conclusion
With the support of the European Commission, FluiDx-AD represents a crucial advance in the fight against Alzheimer's disease, offering more accessible, faster and more accurate diagnostic tools. Its impact will translate into a better quality of life for patients and their families, as well as a boost for research and the development of new therapeutic strategies.
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