ArrestAD proposes a novel and visionary thinking resulting from the demonstration of the central role of heparan sulfate in the molecular mechanisms leading to Alzheimer’s disease and in the observation of related molecular events in circulating cells from Alzheimer’s disease patients. Alzheimer’s disease is a societal challenge for which there is neither prevention nor possible cure. Research in the field aiming to develop diagnostic and therapeutic strategies has long been refining classic concepts based on the aggregation, seeding, and spreading of A-beta peptides and tau protein. ArrestAD vision is different, we have developed a new concept based in the biology of heparan sulfates that considers molecular events occurring before detection of the common A-beta and tau-based Alzheimer’s disease hallmarks. Based in this glycanic concept, ArrestAD developed new strategies for detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. This was possible by validating the new links between heparan sulfates biology, Alzheimer’s disease genetics, and disease onset and evolution.
Based on the new ArrestAD glycanic paradigm, we addressed the two major ArrestAD objectives:
1) Demonstrate that a new class of drug candidates can prevent and/or arrest tauopathy in cells and animal models of Alzheimer’s disease.
2) Proving that specific and early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is possible in circulating cells.
To reach these objectives, ArrestAD brings together a consortium of academic and clinical research teams of high levels coming from different European universities assuring an international-multidisciplinary working group of recognized experts in Alzheimer’s disease clinics and diagnosis, heparan sulfate biology, transcriptomics, interactomics, carbohydrate chemistry, enzymology, cell biology, animal experimentation with Alzheimer’s disease models, and an industrialization of biotechnology, is our main strengths to succeed in this high-risk character project with high socio-economic impact.
Indirect objectives:
In addition to its major objectives, ArrestAD comprises indirect applications as the development of tools allowing the study of the mechanistic leading to disease. This will allow us to better understand the central role of heparan sulfate as a catalyst of biochemical and cellular processes leading to disease development.
