Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation Expands Bio-Hermes Studies with Strategic Partnerships
Key Insights
The Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation (search) has partnered with Alamar Biosciences (search) to enhance the Bio-Hermes studies, which compare blood-based and digital biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease detection across diverse populations.
Bio-Hermes-001 study demonstrated strong correlation between blood tests, particularly pTau-217 (search), and brain amyloid plaques in over 1,000 participants, including 24% from underrepresented communities.
Clinical Neurology Specialists (search) has joined as the only Las Vegas research site for Bio-Hermes-002, expanding access to Alzheimer's research in Nevada where nearly 55,000 residents live with the disease.
The Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation (search) (GAP) has announced two strategic partnerships to advance its Bio-Hermes studies, a transformative research initiative comparing blood-based and digital biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease detection. The collaborations with Alamar Biosciences (search) and Clinical Neurology Specialists (search) represent significant steps toward improving early diagnosis and expanding research access across diverse populations.
Alamar Biosciences Partnership Enhances Biomarker Discovery
Alamar Biosciences (search), a precision proteomics company, has joined the Bio-Hermes studies to contribute its proprietary NULISA™ technology for enhanced biomarker analysis. The company will gain access to biospecimens and data from both Bio-Hermes-001 and Bio-Hermes-002 studies, which are designed to generate data that may help predict, detect and diagnose Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
"Our shared goal is to advance the detection of underlying pathologies, improve the care of patients with Alzheimer's, and accelerate the discovery of therapies and cures for this progressive and fatal disease," said John Dwyer, President of GAP. "Alamar Biosciences (search)' cutting-edge technology expands the range of what we can measure with a level of precision and efficiency that will make a substantial contribution to patient care and to AD research at a pivotal moment for the field."
Dr. Yuling Luo, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Alamar Biosciences (search), emphasized the potential impact: "Incorporating high sensitivity and proteoform-specific NULISA™ data from our comprehensive CNS disease panel including brain-derived phosphorylated Tau species into the Bio-Hermes dataset will provide new insights into Alzheimer's disease and related dementia and lead to discovery of new biomarkers for early diagnosis, staging and prognosis."
Bio-Hermes-001 Demonstrates Strong Biomarker Correlation
The Bio-Hermes-001 study has already yielded significant results, comparing blood and digital biomarkers with brain amyloid PET scans or cerebrospinal fluid assays in over 1,000 community-based participants throughout the US. The study revealed a strong correlation between several blood tests, particularly pTau-217 (search), with the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain, a diagnostic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.
Notably, this relationship was demonstrated across the entire study population, including 24% of Bio-Hermes participants from African American, Latino and other traditionally underrepresented communities, representing an unprecedented level of diversity in Alzheimer's research.
The ongoing Bio-Hermes-002 study is gathering data related to the ability of each biomarker, or combination of biomarkers, to not only diagnose but also predict the accumulation of amyloid and tau in the brain – hallmark characteristics of Alzheimer's disease. This study incorporates MRI and PET images alongside blood-based and digital biomarkers.
Las Vegas Partnership Expands Research Access
Clinical Neurology Specialists (search) (CNS) has become the only Las Vegas research site participating in Bio-Hermes-002, addressing a critical need in Nevada where nearly 55,000 residents live with Alzheimer's disease. The partnership is led by Dr. Leo Germin, founder and medical director of CNS, with GAP Clinical Research Program Manager Sarah Freeland overseeing the study locally.
"With nearly 55,000 Nevadans living with Alzheimer's today, the need for accelerating research is clear," said Dr. Germin. "In collaborating with the Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation (search), CNS will have a direct pathway for patients who could benefit from opportunities with clinical trials."
This collaboration builds on GAP's memorandum of understanding with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), announced less than a year ago, establishing the foundation for future research collaborations in the region.
Comprehensive Industry Partnership
Alamar Biosciences (search) joins an extensive list of industry partners supporting the Bio-Hermes studies, including major pharmaceutical companies Biogen and Eli Lilly and Company, along with technology partners IXICO and Roche. Additional partners providing blood-based biomarker assessments or digital assessments for Bio-Hermes-002 include AINOSTICS, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, Cambridge Cognition Limited, Cognivue, Cumulus Neuroscience Limited, Fujirebio, iLoF, LifeArc, Linus Health, Lucent Diagnostics, Sunbird Bio, and ViewMind.
Data Accessibility and Global Impact
Data from Bio-Hermes-001 is now available on the Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative's AD Workbench through the AD Discovery Portal. Bio-Hermes-002 data will be stored on the same platform and eventually made available to Alzheimer's researchers worldwide, creating a global resource for advancing understanding of the disease.
The AD Workbench serves as a secure, cloud-based data sharing and analytics environment that enables researchers worldwide to share, access, and analyze data across multiple platforms, potentially accelerating the pace of Alzheimer's research and therapeutic development.