Under the NEURii collaboration, partners will pool their expertise in therapeutics, technology development and commercialisation, health data management and advanced analytics/data science to predict, protect and promote brain health
Eisai signs research collaboration on dementia. (Credit: Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash)
Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai has signed a new two-year collaborative research agreement with Gates Ventures, Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), LifeArc and The University of Edinburgh to develop digital solutions for dementia.
The collaboration, dubbed NEURii, will enable the partners to pool their expertise in therapeutics, technology development and commercialisation, health data management and advanced analytics/data science to predict, protect and promote brain health.
Initially, the collaboration will develop data and digital solutions to complement approved treatment options for patients.
It will also aim to solve issues associated with the prediction, prevention, management, and treatment of disorders related to dementia.
According to Japan-based Eisai, NEURii will use individual data, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) to deliver patient-focused digital health solutions through the development of early pilot projects in UK academic centres.
The projects were selected based on their potential to significantly improve patients’ lives while upholding data security and public confidence.
Under the agreement, the partners will develop advanced digital solutions by combining various digital biomarkers that can be collected non-invasively in real-world clinical and non-clinical settings with the medical data gathered in the UK.
These will be used in dementia patient diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment and help to enhance their quality of life and lessen the burden of the disease on their family members and carers, Eisai said.
This initial two-year pilot is expected to create a launch platform supported by a creative business model and scalable prototype for translating scientific prototypes that will enhance and improve public health while proving practical impact.
The partners will also aim to look at other opportunities to expand the programme that develops digital health solutions globally.
Eisai DHBL office Academia and Industry Alliance Officer Dr Teiji Kimura said: “Dementia is one of the major social and medical issues in an ageing society, and Eisai’s mission is to contribute to solving these issues.”
Additionally, NEURii’s methodology will facilitate the identification of advanced data and digital science, mentor scientists, and transform health prototypes into useful and widely available products.
HDR UK director Andrew Morris said: “This new public-private partnership aims to gain a deeper understanding of the disease through trustworthy use of large datasets of anonymised health data in secure environments.”