Ixico expands research collaborations in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's

(Sharecast News) - Ixico said on Monday that it had expanded its research collaborations in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, adding three global experts to its Scientific Advisory Board and launching new Parkinson's research initiatives. The AIM-traded neuroscience imaging and biomarker analytics specialist said Professor Jeffrey Cummings and Professor Charles DeCarli had joined the board as Alzheimer's disease experts, while Professor Stéphane Lehéricy had joined as a Parkinson's disease specialist.

Cummings is Joy Chambers-Grundy Professor of Brain Science at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, while DeCarli is Distinguished Professor of Neurology at the University of California, Davis, and co-director of the UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

Lehéricy is Professor of Neuroradiology and head of the neuroradiology department at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, as well as director of the CENIR neuroimaging research centre at the Paris Brain Institute.

Ixico also said it had entered into a research collaboration with the Paris Brain Institute to evaluate new neuromelanin-sensitive MRI approaches as potential imaging biomarkers for use in Parkinson's disease clinical research.

The study would focus on optimising MRI acquisition protocols and using advanced AI-driven analysis to improve the robustness and reproducibility of the imaging technique, with the aim of supporting its adoption as a quantitative biomarker in Parkinson's clinical trials.

The company added that chief scientific and medical officer Robin Wolz and principal biomarker scientist Kirsi Kinnunen had been invited to participate in the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research MRI Advisory Committee.

Wolz said Ixico's business proposition was "grounded in science" and that working with leading key opinion leaders helped ensure the validation and clinical relevance of the services and technology it provides to the biopharma industry.

"I'm delighted to welcome Jeff, Charlie and Stéphane to the Scientific Advisory Board adding knowledge and experience to an already strong group of advisors," he said.

"We will continue to explore opportunities to work with the most important individuals and organisations pioneering progress towards better understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of neurodegenerative disease."

At 1016 BST, shares in Ixico were down 4.05% at 8.3p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

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