Scientists at UMC Utrecht, in collaboration with Stanford University, have shown that a new computational tool can predict how an experimental therapy may stabilize arterial plaques. The study’s findings were recently published in the leading journal Circulation.
The research team used data from the Athero-Express cohort, with hundreds of human plaque samples. With that, they trained an algorithm that predicts how plaques respond to an experimental SHP-1 inhibitor, an agent designed to promote the clearance of inflammatory cells in plaques. The model predicted that high-risk plaques could shift to a more stable profile an important step toward precision medicine in cardiovascular disease.
By running “virtual trials” on genuine human tissues, the model allows scientists to rapidly screen both existing and novel compounds for potential benefits or side-effects. These insights can emerge months or even years before traditional preclinical studies begin. “Thanks to the unique Athero-Express cohort, we can, for the first time, test new medicines in hundreds of real human plaques on a computer screen,” says senior author Dr. Michal Mokry. “That means quicker, safer and more cost-effective development of therapies that really matter for patients.”
The team is currently building a platform to bring this technology to academic and industrial partners around the world accelerating the path to innovative cardiovascular treatments. In this way, UMC Utrecht is contributing to the development of new, personalized treatments for arteriosclerosis.
Paper Circulation: Computational Modeling Predicts Benefits of Proefferocytic Therapy in Human Atherosclerosis
