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The University of Southampton
Chemistry

Researchers identify ‘fingerprint’ biomarkers for improved assessment of Huntington’s disease

Published: 18 December 2019
Protein fibrils
Protein fibrils that accumulate in brain during neurodegeneration. (Image credit: George Devitt)

Scientists at the universities of Southampton and Cambridge have created a new diagnostic tool that can help identify and track the progression of Huntington’s disease.

The new study, which has been published in the journal Chemical Science, used two forms of spectroscopy to analyse blood samples from Huntington’s patients.

The technique established the patterns or ‘fingerprints’ of biomarkers which indicate the presence of the disease, opening the door to a better diagnosis of onset and more effective tracking of the disease in the future.

Professor Sumeet Mahajan, a Professor in Molecular Biophotonics and Imaging in Chemistry at Southampton, acted as technology lead for the collaboration, which will now extend its scope to include patients who have not yet developed features of the condition.

Read the full story on the main news page.

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