The Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD)
The Cancer Registry of Norway (CRN)
The Hospital registry (NPR)
The Primary Care registry (KUHR)
The Cause of Death Registry (DÅR)
The Norwegian register of persons assessed for cognitive symptoms (NorCog)
With this research project we propose a novel, data-driven alternative for drug discovery and drug surveillance that combines machine learning hypothesis generation with subsequent rigorous pharmacoepidemiological hypothesis validation using longitudinal real-world data (RWD).
In brief, the following stepwise approach will be applied, but also re-iterated and refined over time as new knowledge is generated, and data accumulates in the registries.
Firstly, we will tap into publicly available databases in order to generate testable hypotheses using machine learning and network-based algorithms
In parallel, we will use machine learning based algorithms and biostatistical methods to run hypothesis free drug wide association studies (drug-scanning) directly on the high-dimensional, real-world data, with the aim to detect associations between drug exposure and disease onset, or side-effect signals
Next, we will use the information generated from the first two steps to select the most promising candidate drugs, and pursue them further as drug re-purposing candidates. Or similarly, select the side effect signals of interest, and investigate these further.
Finally, in a hypothesis refinement step, we will attempt to validate the hypotheses, by applying rigorous patient-level pharmacoepidemiological analyses to evaluate whether the associations between exposure to the repurposing candidates and onset of incident disease, or side-effects, are in fact just associations, or potentially causal relationships.
This R&D program will focus on dementia drug-repurposing and side-effect signal detection of lipid-modifying drugs, but could possibly expand to other phenotypes later.
The Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD)
The Cancer Registry of Norway (CRN)
The Hospital registry (NPR)
The Primary Care registry (KUHR)
The Cause of Death Registry (DÅR)
The Norwegian register of persons assessed for cognitive symptoms (NorCog)
Contact us. Get in touch today to explore the possibilities in Nordic health data infrastructure.
Send e-mail
Steinar Thoresen
MD, Ph.D., Medical Director
