Single molecule biomarker discovery in inflammatory neuropathy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot study to identify ultra low concentration biomarkers in the serum of patients with inflammatory neuropathy using the ultrasensitive Single Molecule Analyser (SIMOA) apparatus
IRAS ID
190929
Contact name
Michael Lunn
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 1 months, 3 days
Research summary
The ultrasensitive Single Molecule Analyser (SIMOA) is a new digital multiplex ELISA technology platform capable of detecting molecules at concentrations 3-4 logs better than other current technology. This allows biomarkers not previously measurable to be detected, and more importantly all biomarkers previously at the very bottom of the dynamic range of ELISA to be accurately detected and change measured.
Inflammatory Neuropathies have no or very few biomarkers relating to prognosis, recovery or relapse. Many of the cytokines that might be expected to be relevant are at the limits of ELISA detection.
In the Neuroimmunology Laboratory we have just acquired a SIMOA. We already identify CNS biomarkers in dementias and other CNS diseases. We have previously looked for biomarkers in the serum and CSF of inflammatory neuropathy patients but these are at the limit of the dynamic range of standard ELISA. We have a vaulable and unique resource of sera stored after clinical tests have been performed. We will also require to test blood using other ELISA techniques such as the MSD platform, and Mass spectrometry in order to validate the SIMOA's results.
We will explore levels of cytokines, neurofilament, periaxin in stored superfluous sera and prospectively collected blood (through routine clinic blood tests) and urine from patients with neuropathies, and compare that to healthy controls. We will discover whether there are any potential molecular signals identifiable to form the basis of a future prospective project.REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1852
Date of REC Opinion
28 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion