Contest seeks to find potential solutions to today's scientific challenges using the highly sensitive chimera Imperacer technology
Chimera Biotec recently named Rohan de Silva, of the Reta Lila Weston Institute of Neurological Studies at University College London (UCL), the 2006 Imperacer contest winner for his study on such neurological disorders as Alzheimer's disease, as well as other dementias and movement disorders.
Contest entries proposed theoretical solutions for various scientific challenges while supporting scientific progression.
As the 2006 winner, Dr de Silva will receive a free scientific feasibility test using the Imperacer technology, which enables a general 1000 fold sensitivity increase compared to standard immunoassays.
De Silva's winning entry focused on developing a more responsive method for quantifying three-and four-repeat variants of the tau protein in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
The tau protein is essential for proper functioning of nerve cells.
Defects in the balance of three-and four-repeat variants in the brain could contribute to several of the common late-onset neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Pick's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy.
At this point, neurological disorders can only be closely observed in the living brain by using X-ray, scanning or carrying out a potentially dangerous brain biopsy.
Today, imbalances in the tau protein can only be revealed in the postmortem brain.
However, with a relatively safe and non-invasive lumbar puncture, CSF can be obtained from living patients.
The CSF surrounds the continuous space around the brain and spinal cord.
Investigating changes in the tau protein within the CSF might lead to the identification of changes taking place in the brain.
"This study could potentially help in differentiating diagnoses and prognoses of related dementias, including Alzheimer's disease and parkinsonian movement disorders, at earlier stages".
"Thanks to Imperacer's high degree of sensitivity, it should be easier to examine the variants in the tau protein," said de Silva.
"This is a great study that will make a significant contribution to society, and we are proud to have him as our winner.
"De Silva's study on three-and four-repeat variants in the CSF could prove to be very useful when attempting to detect Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
"The Imperacer technology will give him the increase in sensitivity he needs to detect such variants," said Joachim Dyck, director of sales at Chimera Biotec.
De Silva joined the Reta Lila Weston Institute of Neurological Studies at UCL in 1999, where he is now working on the genetics, biochemistry and cell biology of Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and related disorders.
He obtained a degree in biochemistry in 1987 (Universitat, Switzerland) and a DPhil in molecular biology, 1991 (Oxford University).
From 1991 to 1995 he worked at Duke University Medical Center, North Carolina (genetics of Alzheimer's Disease).
From 1995 to 1996 he worked at the Marie Curie Research Institute in Oxted, Surrey, England (genetics of bladder cancer).
From 1996 to 1999 he worked at Imperial College School of Medicine in London, investigating the role of cytokines in amyloid precursor protein gene expression and splicing.
