Central to the programme is access to DPUK’s trusted research environment within its informatics hub. This includes data security, governance to ISO 27001 and all routine administrative procedures.
“The facilities and expertise available from DPUK and UKDRI provide an unprecedented resource for MND/FTD researchers across the UK. Moving from proteomics, cell, fluid and digital biomarkers, through brain imaging, multi-modal data analysis, to full data management, the MND Accelerator has a streamlined ecosystem for cross-sector high quality research.”
Professor James Rowe, Experimental Medicine Hub & Associate Director, DPUK
Facilities and technologies available through MNDAcc include:
DPUK's Data Portal is a repository and analysis environment. Available data includes lifestyle and cognitive information, brain imaging and genetics.
- Over 60 dementia-related datasets
- End-to-end data management
- Data and tissue discovery
- Research ready data
- Multi-modal analysis
- Security to ISO 27001
Contact: Emma Squires emma.squires@swansea.ac.uk
Highly phenotyped registers of people who have volunteered to participate in trials and studies.
- ‘Great Minds’ research Register (mainly cognitively healthy, ageing individuals)
- Clinical Studies Research register (58,000+ participants, extensively characterised)
Contact: Dr Ivan Koychev, ivan.koychev@psych.ox.ac.uk
Trials Delivery Network. Sites across UK which have agreed to collaborate on the testing of new treatments.
- Smoothing the process for researchers setting up studies
- Deliver trials effectively, efficiently and quickly
Contact: Dr Vanessa Raymont, vanessa.raymont@psych.ox.ac.uk
The Experimental Medicine Incubator powers clinical research through in-human studies. We aim to reduce the time, cost, and risk of drug development.
- Vascular health
- Neuroinflammation
- Synaptic health
Contact: Professor James Rowe, James.Rowe@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk
- Ultrasensitive immunoassay laboratory for biofluid sample analysis
- Refinement of existing blood biomarkers
- Identification of novel biomarkers through a combination of ‘omics-based discovery studies, semi-targeted and targeted assays of neuroimmune and lysosomal function, and in-depth molecular analysis
- Technologies: Quanterix Simoa HDx, Merck SMCxPRO, O-Link Signature 100 platform, MesoScale Discovery platform, BioRad platform with Luminex technology and general plate reader equipment
Contact: Dr Amanda Heslegrave, a.heslegrave@ucl.ac.uk
- Access to Mass spectrometers, proteomic techniques and associated expertise.
- Access to expert informatics advice and analysis of mass spec data.
- Improve proteomic experimental design to strengthen reproducibility.
- Quantification techniques such as TMT and DIA, Proximity labelling, PTM analysis, Small cell number analysis (<2,000 cells), Subcellular fractionation.
Contact: Dr Beth Geary, BGeary001@dundee.ac.uk
- UK DRI is providing services in single cell RNA sequencing and associated techniques and bioinformatics from our UCL Platform Lab.
- We also have access to a range of single cell and spatial transcriptomics equipment through both local labs and a network of collaborators.
- Technologies being used include: Single-cell: 10x Genomics workflows (scRNAseq, scATAC-seq and ‘Multiome’); Spatial: Nanostring GeoMX, Nanostring CosMX, BGI Stereoseq.
Applicants interested in using these technologies as part of their project can contact Sam Jackson in the first instance to discuss needs: sam.jackson@ukdri.ac.uk
UK DRI capabilities
- Novel iPSC-based models for drug screening, target identification and validation, including isogenic lines for rapid i-Motor Neuron differentiation, degron-based models, 2D/3D systems, organoids, neuromuscular ‘assembloids’
- High-throughput screening approaches for drug discovery including phenotypic cellular analysis (multiplex high-content imaging, morphological profiling, fluorescence-based pathway sensors)
- Machine learning approaches and informatics analysis for ALS-linked genetic variation (including GWAS, mendelian mutations, AnswerALS risk scores)
- Predictive computational models using pathway and biomarker analysis to complement polygenic risk score for patient stratification
Contact: Dr Giovanna Lalli (UK DRI Director of Scientific Affairs) g.lalli@ukdri.ucl.ac.uk