AI-BASED PRECISION MEDICINE MINING OF UK BIOBANK FINDS 13 HUMAN CO VID RISK GENES


D


ata scientists from UK-headquartered AI precision medicine company, PrecisionLife, have used t he Company’s proprietary AI enabled precision medicine platform to identify 59 repurposing drug candidat es that could be used to develop new therapeutic strategies t o increase the survival rate of patients who develop sepsis while suffering from severe COVID-19.


The new study on Biorxiv sought to identify genetic risk factors for sepsis especially in the cont ext of COVID-19, and to use these insights to identify existing drugs that might be used to treat life-threatening late-stage disease. Disease architecture of the sepsis cohort generated by the precisionlife platform. Each circle represents a disease associated SNP genotype, edges represent co-association in patients, and colors represent distinct patient sub- populations or ‘communities’. The new study, released today


“Ours is the first study looking at host genomics and opportunities to treat later stage severe disease where host immune processes take over” said Dr Steve Gardner CEO of PrecisionLife. Like the initial genomic studies on COVID-19 patient


, released today on Biorxiv sought to ident ify genetic risk factors for sepsis especially in the context of COVID-19, and to use these insights to identify existing drugs that might be used to treat life-threatening late- stage disease.


more t han a handful of genet ic


variants t hat predispose individuals to developing the disease. By providing deeper insights, this study identifies novel approaches and hope for new therapies.


PrecisionLife analysed patient datasets compiled by UK Biobank to identify genes associated with sepsis, which are also found in severe COVID-19 patients. Sepsis is observed in 60 per cent of severe COVID-19 patients and is a life-threatening condition with a mortality rate of approximat ely 20


ients. Sepsis is observed in 60 per cent of severe COVID-19 patient


eam identified mutations in 7 0 sepsis risk genes, 61 per cent of which were also present specifically in severe COVID-19 patients. Several of the disease associated genetic signatures found in both sepsis and severe COVID-19 patients have previously been linked to cancer, immune response, endothelial and vascular inflammation and neuronal signalling.


The t eam identified mutat per cent.


13 of the sepsis risk genes, which the study shows are also COVID risk genes, are known to be druggable i.e. target ed by active chemical compounds used to treat these other diseases and therefore represent potential drug repurposing opport unities. The study went on to ident ify 59 compounds and drugs that are known to be active against these 13 targets. These could form the basis for future drug t rials and repurposing projects. They could also offer potential as COVID-19 high risk biomarkers.


“Our high-resolution genomic analysis tools have allowed us to develop new insights int o two serious and complex diseases for which new therapeutic options are urgently required. We hope that these will lead t o better understanding of what drives sepsis in COVID-19 patients and result in new ways to treat seriously ill patient


s to treat seriously ill patients” said Dr Gardner.


PrecisionLife is disclosing its new insights and will be working with international collaborators to investigate therapeutic strat egies that may help to reduce the high mortality rates in patients who develop sepsis with or without the context of COVID-19.


As more COVID-19 patient data become available in UK Biobank and other patient data sources, P ecisionLife will be able to analy ient data sources, Pr impact of these disease signatures in a larger group of patient s.


W


ith the country approaching t he tenth week of large, and multi industry ,


social distancing measures as part of the controls around COVID-19, UK businesses are starting, with caut ion, to explore way which adaptat ions need to be made to ensure a safe movement back to normal working and operating patterns once government recommendat ions allow it.


ion, to explore way s in


Entrepreneur Josh Bunce, founder and CEO of Bristol born inurface Group, has developed a number of solutions which, using a combination of the existing expertise t he company has and t he utilisation of various technologies, will help support businesses back into operation as well as offer vital reassurance for the public using these services.


While his company took a hit, like many


others, due to t he knock on impacts of COVID- 19, instead of sit ting back and wait ing for things t o return to normal, Bunce and his team began exploring way s they could support UK businesses, using their background and expertise in retail communications solut


expertise in retail communications solut ions and signage, to do this UK based, and with experience and understanding of t he UK retail and business industry, the team are able to act


4 MAY 2020 | ELECTRONICS


fast with their solut ions. This, they hope, will mean they can support businesses to increase t heir monitoring and safety solutions as quickly as possible in a time where it, like never before, will be essential.


The focus of these services in inurface Groups’s mind is twofold. First ly, in an office environment to keep employees safe and allow them to ret urn to work and secondly in a retail situation where the public will need to be managed and proactively communicated with, to ensure a safe experience for all.


Two primary product s are key within the packages developed by Bunce and his team. The first a thermal monitoring camera which, at distance, can remotely read multiple individuals’ temperatures accurate, unlike many alt ernatives on the market, within 0.3 of a degree. Vitally , unlike other similar syst


, unlike other similar syst ems, the


t echnology will use an integrated cloud based system to share this dat a in real time with store managers, security teams and even head offices away from the site. This tech will allow businesses to pract ically, and without disruption, monitor large numbers of people’s temperatures in a short period of time and act as necessary to keep areas safe for operation.


as necessary t recisionLife will be able to analy se t he clinical


UK TECH ENTREPRENEUR DEVELOPS SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT COVID-19 ECONOMIC RECOVERY This adapted technology, developed by


inurface Group owned company ADT (Ad v anced Display T echnology ), has been used historically in various way but never before in these sett ings, and often with less accurate readings or requiring people to be within much closer range of the device.


With adaptation inurface Group team soon realised how this tech could be posit ively used during this period of economic recovery and have already had multiple conversations with businesses keen to implement the resources Bunce and team can offer.


The second, a digital signage hand sanitiser, combines two technologies to encourage high levels of sanitation at points of entry t o stores and offices also allows the same consumer t o be targeted with messaging specific to each location and even the real time situat The screens can be used in a whole range of ways dependant on each unique set ting. T o regulate crowd flow into a food store for example, to communicate precautions being taken to ease anxiet y and offer tailored advice t o users through easily positioned monitors.


he real time situat ion. inurfacemedia.co.uk / ELECTRONICS


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