Cutting-edge tools to improve diagnosis of neurogenerative diseases
The tools we’re developing can help diagnose and stage several neurodegenerative diseases. These disorders are becoming more common as Australia’s population ages.
Our tools identify biomarkers in brain images to accurately diagnose and stage neurodegenerative diseases.
The challenge
Neurodegenerative diseases affect hundreds of thousands of Australians. The term refers to a group of age-related brain illnesses that result in progressive loss of brain tissue and cognitive function.
Early detection is now recognised as the critical path to effective treatment for various forms of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This is because it may allow for interventions prior to widespread tissue loss.
The primary pathway for early detection is through identification of neuropathology biomarkers with neuro-imaging modalities.
However, clinicians face challenges when implementing this.
Our response
We’re developing technologies to unlock crucial clinical information from brain images by identifying biomarkers. The tools facilitate accurate diagnose and staging of several neurodegenerative diseases.
The aim of our work is to increase efficacy in clinical trials, facilitating the fast development of new therapies and at less cost. Ultimately, we hope to improve quality of life for people in the later stages of their life.
Our collaborators
The tools we create are the result of strong collaborations with clinicians who are looking for solutions to challenges they experience during diagnosis and treatment. This ensures our tools have built-in real-world applications.
We collaborate with many organisations, including Austin Health, Florey Institute of Neuroscience, McCusker Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (MARF), Edith Cowan University (ECU), Macquarie University, AIBL, KARVIAH and PISA studies.
Benefits
Our technologies allow a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.
For example, our CapAIBL tool enabled the identification of a 15–17-year pre-clinical window for preventative treatment in AD. This resulted in the first preclinical trials.
Our tools also improve efficacy of clinical trials.
Our technologies contributed to the validation of the first accurate blood biomarkers for AD. This method is five time cheaper than a PET scan.
Finally, all our technologies provide clinicians with large set of biomarkers and predictive models to help improve patient care and develop personalised solutions.
We are continuing to produce valuable tools to facilitate neuroimaging.
To ensure that the Neuroimaging team remain at the forefront of the digital disruption and maintain our competitive advantage, we are investing resources in artificial intelligence technologies for automated quantification of imaging biomarkers.
We are ensuring that we can provide high-throughput and harmonised delivery of our science to promote the ever-increasing pull for data. This is essential as we move towards personalised health metrics.
The Australian e-Health Research Centre (AEHRC) is CSIRO's digital health research program and a joint venture between CSIRO and the Queensland Government. The AEHRC works with state and federal health agencies, clinical research groups and health businesses around Australia.