AI Revolutionizes Drug Discovery at University of Buffalo Pharmacy Lab
Source: buffalo.edu
A University at Buffalo lab is leveraging artificial intelligence to transform drug development. The goal is to create better treatments for a host of diseases, especially multiple sclerosis.
AI's Growing Role in Medicine
Murali Ramanathan leads the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence and Clinical Pharmacology. He has been using AI to explore treatments for MS and Alzheimer’s. Now, he's expanding AI's use to analyze complex biomedical data for many diseases.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
The lab is linked to the UB Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. Ramanathan’s team uses AI, deep learning, and advanced analytics on real-world healthcare data. This approach brings together experts from neurology, radiology, engineering, computer science, and statistics.
Accelerating Research with AI
Ramanathan says AI allows researchers to analyze huge datasets quickly. This helps identify patterns and predict disease progression or medication response. The lab focuses on developing reliable and effective AI methods.
Improving Drug Development
Drug development turns chemical entities into injectable products. AI can match the right molecule to the disease. This ensures patients get the correct drug and dose at the right time. AI enables better decision-making by reducing the number of drugs needed for trials.
Gates Foundation Grant
For the past year, Ramanathan has been working under a $275,000 Gates Foundation grant. The goal is to develop clinical trial protocols. The Gates Foundation needs a roadmap for tackling diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV in developing countries.
Creating Clinical Trial Roadmaps
Ramanathan’s team is creating detailed construction diagrams for clinical trials. They define the trial's direction, data collection, and meaningful analysis. The team uses public data and data from collaborators at the Gates Foundation.
Future Opportunities
Ramanathan hopes to extend the grant and explore new avenues. Working with the Gates Foundation has opened up positive opportunities for the lab.