Page 61 - Memora anual Fundación CIEN 2015

3. SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY

Illustration of the concept of endophenotypes for defining homogenous
populations based on certain genetic variants and biomarkers
in Alzheimer's disease. Modified from During et al. 2011

The construct of Diagnostic or
endophenotype predictive marker

Epigenetics

Genes AD -related Prediction AD

Exploration of Abnormalities of the disease dementia
risk factors in cognitively

normal subjects

Environment

on clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical or patholo- studies demonstrated the potential usefulness of
gical outcomes (see Figure below). blood analysis using spectroscopic techniques
(which are not normally used in the in vitro diagnos-
Designing and building of a Raman laser tics) to distinguish samples from AD patients and
spectroscopy-based system for diagnosing control samples (cognitively healthy). According to
this previous study, it has been determined that ap-
(INNPACTO Program) proximately 9% proteins in control population have
beta structure versus 14% in AD patients. This change
This project represents a technological development reflected in the spectroscopic properties of samples
plan and implementation of an innovative diagno- allowed to classify the samples from cases and con-
sis system for Alzheimer's disease. It is led by Biocross trols with an accuracy approaching 90%.
SL and supported by a consortium of researchers
from various scientific institutions such as the CSIC The project is organized into two main integrated
and CIEN Foundation. and complementary lines, whose main goals are:

The project's starting point previous is the work of a • Validate Raman laser spectroscopy-based
research team consisting of researchers from CSIC technology to detect Alzheimer's disease (AD)
(Institute of Structure of the Matter and Cajal Insti- in blood samples.
tute), CIEN Foundation, the Carlos III Institute of He-
alth and 12 de Octubre Hospital in Madrid. These

CIEN Foundation Annual Report 2015 / 63