BullFrog AI and Lieber Institute for Brain Development Reveal New Insights into Bipolar Disorder Pathways and Potential Drug Targets

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BullFrog AI Holdings, Inc.
BullFrog AI Holdings, Inc.

Discussions underway for drug target discovery deals with potential pharma partners

GAITHERSBURG, Md., July 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BullFrog AI Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BFRG; BFRGW) ("BullFrog AI" or the "Company"), a leader in AI-driven drug discovery, announced significant advancements in its ongoing collaboration with the Lieber Institute for Brain Development (LIBD). Building on the progress detailed in our May 16, 2024 release, our research has now pinpointed specific molecular pathways associated with bipolar disorder (BD), enabling the identification of new candidate drug targets.

Our latest analysis, focusing on functional enrichment across various brain regions associated with bipolar disorder, identified significant enrichment in six out of 68 clusters from the LIBD brain dataset. This means that six specific groups of genes or proteins, which are highly relevant to at least some cases with BD, were found among the many brain data clusters analyzed. This is significant because it narrows down gene networks most involved in BD, allowing for more targeted research.

One notable example, in the Dentate Gyrus, a region critical for memory and cognitive function, two substantially enriched clusters were discovered. This suggests a strong involvement of this area in BD pathology. Additionally, the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC), which is crucial for executive functions like decision-making and problem-solving, revealed one specific cluster associated with BD. This precise identification within the DLPFC highlights a key area for understanding and potentially treating BD.

These findings highlight the potential dysregulation of pro-inflammatory pathways and include the identification of a number of novel pathways significant to the pathophysiology of BD. Our advanced AI-driven analysis not only deepens the understanding of BD but also identifies several putative drivers of the condition. These discoveries pave the way for developing targeted therapeutics aimed at these specific molecular mechanisms, offering hope for more effective and personalized treatments for patients suffering from BD.

Continued Collaboration and Future Directions:

“This collaboration continues to demonstrate the power of AI in unlocking the complexities of neuropsychiatric disorders,” said Vin Singh, CEO of BullFrog AI. “Our proprietary bfLEAP™ platform and causal AI strategy, combined with LIBD’s extensive brain data, is driving forward our mission to develop precise and effective treatments. We are now focusing on validating these findings in wet lab settings and engaging with pharmaceutical partners to advance these discoveries.”