This scientific discussion will review how emerging AI solutions that employ quantitative neuroimaging can help address some of the key challenges faced in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) clinical trials including:
Improved stratification
One important reason that AD trials have failed to show positive results is the inherent heterogeneity of the AD population. This has resulted in trials being underpowered due to the inclusion of patients who were not going to decline during the trial and thus were not able to demonstrate a treatment effect.
We will discuss the recent focus on improving stratification by using machine learning to predict a patient’s likely risk to decline over the period of the trial and the impact of using these models to enrich patient selection.
Better imaging outcomes
We will present techniques that use deep learning for quantitative segmentation of structural brain regions and the added value they provide over purely qualitative assessments.
We will also provide an overview of the AD trials that have employed quantitative imaging as an endpoint and why providing these measures is important.
Safety and prescribing
Given the controversies around anti-amyloid drug side effects (ARIA), we will discuss the potential for AI methods to detect microbleeds as well as to support a personalized medicine approach.
Speakers


Marwan Noel Sabbagh, MD, FAAN
Professor of Neurology
Board certified neurologist and geriatric neurologist, has dedicated his career to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases.


Elizabeth Gordon, PhD
Scientific Director, Qynapse
Elizabeth joined Qynapse in 2021 as a Senior Clinical Scientist and now serves as the Scientific Director leading the clinical scientific program. She brings with her over 15 years of experience in neuroscience and quantitative image analysis in neurodegenerative dementia clinical trials and Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders.
Prior to joining Qynapse, Elizabeth led the imaging clinical trials team at the Queen Square Institute of Neurology, alongside supporting a wide portfolio of research projects within the Dementia Research Centre, UCL, London.
Elizabeth earned her MSc in Clinical and Experimental Medicine and PhD in Neuroscience from UCL, focusing on the use of longitudinal quantitative neuroimaging markers to improve differential diagnosis and track disease progression across different dementias, with a view to developing imaging biomarkers for dementia clinical trials.


Peter Steiger, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer, Calyx
Peter has a wealth of experience in the use of imaging and other biomarkers for documenting the safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of new drugs in clinical trials. He leads Calyx’s Global Scientific and Medical Services team of over 75 scientists and is actively engaged in developing and implementing effective imaging strategies for global clinical development programs. He has authored numerous papers and is regularly involved in research presented at scientific meetings.