$13M federal grant fuels research into imaging AI for Alzheimer's
Researchers studying the use of artificial intelligence for diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s disease were just granted a major financial boost from the National Institutes of Health.
NIH just renewed its support for the Artificial Intelligence for Alzheimer’s Disease, or AI4AD, to the tune of $12.6 million. AI4AD is a multi-institutional initiative led by experts at the University of Southern California that is studying how AI can be harnessed in imaging, cognitive testing, genomic data and other biological information to identify patterns associated with Alzheimer’s diagnoses.
"With AI4AD2, we are launching a program of genome-guided drug discovery, enabling researchers to identify novel drugs that target specific types of dementia, including the rarer subtypes,” explained Paul M. Thompson, PhD, associate director of the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute.
Ten investigators and 23 co-investigators from 10 institutions are spearheading the project, which has been ongoing since 2020. Thus far, the team has been able to develop AI tools that could identify subtle patterns specific to Alzheimer’s on brain imaging. The tools utilize machine learning to combine genomic data with imaging findings to help quantify an individual’s risk of developing the cognitive disorder.
Experts hope to build on that work by identifying and describing subtypes of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Molecular subtyping could help researchers develop treatments targeted at amyloid, tau, vascular injury and inflammation.
“This renewal allows our team and collaborators to work at a scale that was previously out of reach, integrating imaging, genomics and other biomarkers to better capture the complexity of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Arthur W. Toga, PhD, director of the Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute. “It represents an important step toward more precise, inclusive and actionable brain health research.”
In total, NIH has awarded the project over $30 million. Researchers are hopeful the funding will help pave the way for more personalized treatments for Alzheimer's.
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In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.