Renew Biotechnologies Maps Neuronal Death via Blood-Based DNA Analysis

The study validates the NeuroLens platform, which tracks fragments of DNA released into the bloodstream during cellular death. Unlike conventional diagnostics that detect generalized neuronal injury, this method maps these fragments back to their original cell populations—cortical neurons in Alzheimer’s, dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s, and spinal motor neurons in ALS. The team analyzed 137 blood samples using nanopore sequencing, which bypasses the biases of traditional bisulfite conversion. Multivariate models utilizing these specific signatures reached an area under the curve (AUC) performance exceeding 0.85.

Renew Biotechnologies CEO Chad Pollard noted that current tests often fail to identify the precise location of neurodegeneration within the brain. By providing biological context, the platform aims to reveal not just the presence of disease, but the velocity and location of cell loss. Since the initial study, the company has expanded its dataset to over 2,000 patient-derived samples. While NeuroLens is currently restricted to Research Use Only, the company is moving toward offering the assay as a Laboratory Developed Test to support clinical research and diagnostic development.