Key Highlights:
- IDentif.AI identifies optimized drug cocktails tailored for male and female AVS patients, addressing a critical gap in cardiovascular treatment development.
- Combination therapies including Losartan show potential to accelerate regulatory approval and offer alternatives to invasive valve replacement procedures.
- Advanced hydrogel biomaterials enable realistic cell models, enhancing precision medicine through AI-driven drug screening.
AI-Powered Personalization: Unlocking Sex-Specific Drug Efficacy
The collaboration between the National University of Singapore’s WisDM and UC San Diego’s Bioengineering department leverages the IDentif.AI platform to optimize drug combinations targeting aortic valve myofibroblast activation. This process, a driver of valve stiffening in aortic valve stenosis (AVS), responds differently in male and female cells. By accounting for these biological sex differences, AI-driven models have identified distinct therapeutic regimens, marking a significant advancement beyond one-size-fits-all cardiovascular treatments.
Bridging Preclinical and Clinical Therapies with Strategic Drug Combinations
The study tested 59 drug combinations on valvular interstitial cells cultured in biomimetic hydrogel scaffolds, revealing promising sex-specific regimens. Many candidates are investigational drugs, but the inclusion of Losartan—a widely used hypertension medication—in top combinations may streamline clinical translation and regulatory pathways. This approach offers hope for more effective, less invasive treatment options compared to current surgical or transcatheter valve replacements.
Hydrogel Biomaterials: Creating a Humanized Microenvironment for Drug Discovery
Innovative hydrogel biomaterials developed at UC San Diego closely mimic the mechanical and biochemical environment of human heart valves, enabling realistic in vitro studies. This environment proved crucial for detecting sex-dependent drug synergy, which traditional culture methods missed. The integration of biomaterials and AI optimizes discovery efficiency and supports personalized therapeutic development.
Expanding Horizons: Future Applications and Industry Impact
Building on these findings, researchers plan to extend AI-driven, sex-specific drug combination screening to other diseases exhibiting sex-biased progression and treatment response. This initiative promises to accelerate precision medicine in cardiovascular and broader biopharma fields. The approach underscores the importance of integrating digital medicine and advanced biomaterials, setting a new standard for drug discovery and personalized healthcare innovation.
About National University of Singapore (NUS) Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM) and Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
The NUS Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM) pioneers AI-driven healthcare innovations, integrating cutting-edge digital technologies with clinical research at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine to accelerate personalized medicine.
About University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) Jacobs School of Engineering
The UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering leads in bioengineering research, developing advanced biomaterials and humanized models through the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering to enable precision medicine breakthroughs.
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