Our research

We study neurological diseases at the intersection between clinical research, biochemistry, and computer science. A key topic in our work is Alzheimer’s disease, where we study large patient cohorts using biochemistry, cell models, genetic analyses, advanced neuroimaging, and cognitive tests.

To optimally use this multimodal data, we use state-of-the-art machine learning and artificial intelligence tools to identify patterns in data. This provides us with clues to the underlying disease mechanisms, so that we can create tools for optimized diagnosis and prognosis to improve patient management or facilitate the development of new therapies.

One example of this is that we investigate the genetic regulation of different features of Alzheimer’s disease. Further, we develop deep-learning models that integrate information from advanced neuroimaging with other modalities to predict cognitive decline, already at an early disease stage. We link the findings from the large cohort studies to cell biology projects, focusing on key features of Alzheimer’s disease in patient-derived induced neurons.

Aims

• Improve diagnostic and prognostic methods in clinical practice.

• Optimize the design of clinical trials to facilitate the development of novel therapies.

• Gain novel understanding of disease mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases

• Develop new methods (including artificial intelligence) that can be used to boost further research on Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological diseases.

Impact

Our research has contributed to the clinical implementation of biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of Alzheimer’s diseases, which reduces misdiagnosis in clinical practice. Our research has also contributed to a novel design of clinical trials, which may accelerate the development of efficient therapies for Alzheimer’s disease.

How our research contributes to the goals of MultiPark

Our projects contributes to the understanding of the origins and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, and the development of early and differential diagnostics and prognostics. Our research addresses the aims of MultiPark's working groups 5 and 6. 

Research Team & Publications

Our group is a specific subgroup within a larger context of clinical memory research.

Read about publications and research team members of the Clinical Memory Research in the LU Research Portal.