A/Prof White’s team developed a unique approach to screening drugs that target the brain’s resident immune cells (microglia) on a person-by-person basis. They are able to generate microglia from a person’s blood cells (monocytes) in 2 weeks at a cost of ~$50/person. These cells can be screened for the ability of different drugs to enhance their protective functions, allowing them to determine which drugs will likely benefit each patient. With access to large Alzheimer’s disease cohorts, they are in a unique position to establish a screening platform for patient-specific drug efficacy, allowing physicians to prescribe a drug treatment regime tailored to an individual’s own microglia. Patient microglia responses can then be monitored over time. NFMRI funding supported research to screen patient specific potential drugs.
A/Prof Anthony White’s project commenced in April 2019 and was completed by 31 December 2020. Some of the key highlights from this project’s progress include:
- Project is progressing very well and all aims are being achieved
- Industry partnership with Takeda Corporation
- Leveraged $230,000 of funding from private and public sources
- Partnering with Dr Lesley Cheng from La Trobe University
