As part of a collaboration with UK Dementia Research Institute, we are supporting research to validate a new blood test to detect the earliest signs of neurogenerative conditions, potentially years before symptoms occur.

 
Protein aggregation and associated inflammation play a key role in all neurodegenerative diseases and are known to occur early in disease progression. Professor Sir David Klenerman and his team at the University of Cambridge are developing an ultra-sensitive blood test to detect these early markers of disease. 

Their ultra-sensitive assays can detect harmful proteins, such as amyloid beta, tau, alpha-synuclein, and TDP-43, that clump together into aggregates and cause damage in the brain. By detecting these aggregates in one simple test, it could be used for the early detection of many neurodegenerative conditions and to classify patients for treatment. 

In addition to aiding early diagnoses, the new blood test would be less painful and minimally invasive compared to existing spinal fluid tests and more accessible than costly brain imaging scans. 

“This research has the potential to transform how we detect and diagnose neurodegenerative diseases. By supporting and investing in projects like this, we hope to speed up the process of turning scientific discoveries into real world solutions for patients facing devastating conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.”

Dr Karen Skinner, Chief Portfolio Officer, LifeArc 

The project is expected to conclude at the end of 2026 and, if successful, the test could become available for widespread use in clinics across the UK in the coming years.