A new MND research breakthrough could help shape treatment research and change how scientists understand the disease.
Vesalic Limited, an early-stage biotech company focused on neurodegenerative diseases, announced the findings, with RD Research developing the data platform behind the work.
The discovery could inform clinical research and speed the development of treatments for people living with motor neurone disease (MND) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The research suggests these conditions may not be confined to the central nervous system, meaning the brain and spinal cord, but may involve biological changes across the body that contribute to disease progression.
Paul Williamson, managing director of RD Research, said: “We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved.
“From our base in Norfolk, our world-class expertise is accelerating advancements in healthcare and research programmes across the UK and internationally.
“We are currently working with an orthopaedic hospital on the development of machine learning to greatly speed up the analysis of DEXA bone scans, to cut waiting times from months to days.
“It’s an honour to share our expertise with clinical specialists and contribute to innovations that will improve the lives of hundreds of thousands across the UK.”
Vesalic has also identified a new peripheral blood-based biomarker for ALS, the most common form of MND.
A biomarker is a measurable sign in the body that can help detect, monitor or understand a disease. Vesalic said the blood-based biomarker could support future work on earlier diagnosis and treatment development for ALS.
The company said the findings may also be relevant to other neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Neurodegenerative diseases are conditions in which nerve cells gradually become damaged or die. In MND, this affects the nerve cells that control movement, causing progressive muscle weakness.
RD Research designed and built a bespoke database and analytics platform to help Vesalic organise and analyse complex research data.
The system supports faster, more accurate analysis, reporting and tracking of complex research data, helping to bring potential advancements closer to patients across the UK.
Professor Valeria Ricotti, chief executive and founder of Vesalic Limited, approached RD Research to explore the development of a research-grade data platform tailored to the company’s scientific and operational needs.
RD Research delivered a system with tools for analysis, reporting and tracking, designed to streamline Vesalic’s research workflows.
The bespoke system, developed over two years, is designed to organise complex research data, track progress and produce consistent reports, creating a scalable foundation for Vesalic’s ongoing programmes.
It can also securely handle and analyse large volumes of data from hospitals and research centres across Europe.
The development was led by Max Durrant, who joined RD Research as an intern while studying at the University of East Anglia, before becoming senior engineer and later technical manager.
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