A BRADFORD company has secured a multi-million-pound sum of funding to trial technology to support early screening and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

Bradford-based Ascentys is in partnership with Durham University and Hywel Dda University Health Board.

The company has successfully acquired rounds of funding from Innovate UK - including its highly coveted SMART award for world-leading innovation anticipated to have the highest impact on the UK economy. 

Its share of the £25 million Government funding has been set aside to fund the development of a state-of-the-art video game. 

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Ascentys describes the video game as a potential game changer for transforming the current NHS assessment pathways for Alzheimer's.

Dr Sayed Kazmi, founder of Ascentys said: “From its inception, Ascentys has sought to innovate, to create a significant positive impact on the patients, their families, and carers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and the clinicians responsible for their care.”

The funding will be used to continue the development and testing of the Game based Dementia Automated Testing Algorithm, known as G:DATA.

The cutting-edge video game and related artificial intelligence-based technology aim to provide rapid screening and diagnostics for Alzheimer’s, with rehabilitative potential.

Dr Kazmi, a former senior academic for more than 20 years and advisor to a Silicon Valley technology investment group, launched Ascentys after he witnessed family and friends’ health decline from the disease. 

“Treatment and care of Alzheimer's Dementia cost the NHS millions annually and desperately requires innovation to transform the current treatment pathway for the disease to substantially reduce the clinical burden and waiting list times for patients," said Dr Kazmi.

“The aim of G:DATA is to have a role in this and to raise the effectiveness and quality of care provided to patients using an inexpensive, highly engaging, and non-invasive alternative to existing approaches.

“It gives us great pleasure to announce this award and we are confident G:DATA will play a key role in transforming the current screening and diagnostics of Alzheimer’s disease and ultimately work towards providing a genuinely novel treatment.”

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