Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder that affects many aspects of a person’s life, including their physical health, behaviour, and metabolism. Finding effective treatments for PWS has been challenging, but Dr. Singh and his team at Duke University are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to study PWS in a new way.
They are applying large language models (LLMs), advanced computer programs that can analyse vast amounts of data, to understand how PWS cells work and are constructed. This will then go on to create a detailed map of how PWS affects the body’s cells at a molecular level, showing how different genes and proteins interact and how these interactions are disrupted in PWS. By understanding these interactions, the researchers can identify key points where drugs could potentially intervene to correct the issues caused by PWS.
It then gets even more exciting – the team can also use AI to scan thousands of existing drugs to see if any of them could be repurposed to treat PWS. This could significantly speed up the process of finding effective treatments, as these drugs have already been tested for safety in humans.
AI is growing in all fields, and this is an exciting way to use it to advance PWS research and treatments. This research is paving the way for new and better treatments that could improve the lives of those affected by this challenging disorder