SC Connecticut News

Clemens Scherzer, MD, has set out to transform the treatment of Parkinson’s disease by leveraging genomics and artificial intelligence (AI) to develop personalized therapeutics. Having recently assumed the role of director of the Stephen & Denise Adams Center for Parkinson’s Disease Research at Yale School of Medicine, Scherzer aims to pioneer the future of precision medicine for Parkinson’s disease.

"We want to learn to catch the disease early, be able to predict what the future will hold for each patient, and then intervene to prevent debilitating progression from ever occurring," Scherzer explains.

Scherzer envisions a future where individuals with Parkinson’s disease can undergo a simple blood test that, when analyzed by a computer program, can provide crucial genomic and biomolecular information to guide tailored treatment recommendations. Drawing parallels to targeted advertising algorithms, Scherzer emphasizes the goal of matching the right drug to the right person at the right time based on a comprehensive understanding of the disease.

The center, under Scherzer's leadership, is working on building a comprehensive human atlas of Parkinson’s disease by compiling molecular and clinical data from thousands of patients. This initiative includes sequencing the RNA programs of one million human brain cells across various stages of disease progression.

"Our work is similar to how a search engine targets advertisements to a user based on massive search histories," Scherzer explains. "The goal is to precisely match the right drug to the right person at the right time, based on a search of the entire disease biology."

Scherzer and his team are also engaged in the Yale Harvard Biomarkers Study, which involves mapping genetic variants influencing Parkinson’s disease progression and cataloging patient biofluid molecules using advanced technology. This endeavor aims to uncover genes, therapeutics, and biomarkers crucial for understanding and treating the disease.

"We are on a quest to decode the RNA software of brain cells and figure out how to develop tailored drugs that correct any glitches," Scherzer states, emphasizing the center's ambition to launch early-stage clinical trials based on newly identified drug targets.

In a bid to expedite drug development, the researchers are exploring the repurposing of existing medications for Parkinson’s treatment. By analyzing electronic patient data and collaborating with international partners, including the University of Bergen in Norway, Scherzer’s team is identifying potential drug candidates, such as beta2 agonists, for repurposing.

"If we can identify drugs that extend this therapeutic window for 10 years or more, many patients will never suffer these complications," Scherzer highlights the potential impact of developing more effective medications for Parkinson’s disease.

Scherzer's ultimate vision is to establish a precision neurology clinic where individuals with Parkinson’s disease can receive personalized treatments, with the overarching goal of significantly improving patients' quality of life.