The collaborative is an ad hoc activity convened under the auspices of the Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies). The work it produces does not necessarily represent the views of any one organization, the Forum, or the National Academies, and is not subjected to the review procedures of, nor is it a report or product of, the National Academies.

Description

A key step towards reducing the burden of central nervous system (CNS) disorders is the identification of disease-specific biomarkers that can help predict, monitor, and guide treatment development. Multimodal biomarkers in particular offer the potential for improved diagnosis and more accurate disease assessments. For example, studies have used multimodal biomarkers (e.g., MRI, PET, biological samples and clinical data) to more accurately diagnose and measure disease severity in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. However, there remain challenges in current data collection, standardization, and validation practices that impede the development of multimodal biomarkers.

Recognizing the need for increased CNS biomarker integration via implementation of universal multimodal biomarker standards, increased data sharing, and more accessible validation protocols, the Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders hosted a workshop on March 13-14, 2023, Multimodal Biomarker for Central Nervous System Disorders: Development, Integration, and Clinical Utility, that examined the potential to develop multimodal biomarkers for central nervous system (CNS) disorders through the integration of different biomarkers.

An important consideration highlighted by the workshop was the different levels of maturity of biomarkers across central nervous system disorders. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease have made remarkable progress in the development and integration of multimodal biomarkers. However, other disease areas such as psychiatry and neurodevelopmental disorders, have had slower progression in multimodal biomarker development.

Collaborative Activities

The goal of this Action Collaborative, an ad hoc activity associated with the National Academies’ Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders, is to develop a resource that will outline the considerations that researchers can integrate into their multimodal biomarker development, validation, and clinical application. To accomplish this, the collaborative is in the process of composing an individually-authored white paper. This document will initially provide a historical overview of the development of multimodal biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease, highlighting the challenges faced, the strategies employed to overcome them, or potential solutions. Subsequently, the white paper will shift its focus to other CNS disorders. It will delve into the existing obstacles, aspirations for the field, and draw upon the insights gained from the experience with Alzheimer's disease to facilitate the advancement of these disease areas towards a level of maturity similar to that of Alzheimer's.

Collaborative Members

Linda Brady (co-chair), National Institute of Mental Health

Vikas Sharma (co-chair), Fortrea

Alan Anticevic, Yale University

Adriana Di Martino, Child Mind Institute

Rebecca Edelmayer, Alzheimer’s Association

Stuart Hoffman, Department of Veterans Affairs

Samantha Hutten, Michael J. Fox Foundation

Clifford Jack, Mayo Clinic

William Jagust, University of California, Berkeley

Hartmuth Kolb, Johnson & Johnson

Simin Mahinrad, Alzheimer’s Association

Valentina Mantua, Food and Drug Administration

William Potter, Independent Consultant

Alessandra Rovescalli, National Institute of Aging

Leslie Shaw, University of Pennsylvania

Sudhir Sivakumaran, The Critical Path Institute

Carol Taylor-Burds, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Alessio Travaglia, Foundation for the National Institutes of Health

John Wagner, Koneksa Health

Charisse Winston, University of California, San Diego