The Simoa HD-X is the only machine of its kind in the state, and one of a few in New England. Before its arrival, samples needed to be shipped out on dry ice, which ran the risk of loss or damage. What’s more, no single facility could run all of the different tests necessary for a comprehensive analysis. Months-long wait times and exorbitantly high cost estimates often rendered projects impossible — and research questions unanswerable. 

The Simoa HD-X Analyzer, from a biotech company called Quanterix, uses a proprietary bead-based technology in which a magnetic bead bonds to a biomarker to pull it out of a fluid sample. This technology allows for the detection of biomarkers if even a single molecule of that protein is present, making it 1,000 times more sensitive than previous models. Compared to other models that look for one biomarker at a time, the Simoa HD-X can measure up to six different biomarkers in one sample.

Now, researchers have the ability to partner with Pelton to design customized experiments. In consultations with researchers, she can develop assays, or biomarker tests that are unique to the client and project. The Simoa HD-X is fully automated and capable of analyzing up to 288 samples at a time, allowing it to churn through a large number of tests within three to four hours, compared to the day or two this process takes using standard protocols on less-advanced machines.

Bridging brain science and clinical treatment

The Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fluid Biomarkers Laboratory is intended to serve as a bridge between basic laboratory science and clinical patient-focused research. Brain science research will be informed by direct access to patient-derived biomarkers and genetic data, and clinical researchers will have immediate knowledge of disease targets identified through basic research.

For example, Pelton is currently working on a project led by Dr. Frank Sellke, professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School and the chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Rhode Island Hospital. Sellke’s team is investigating the relationship between neurocognitive and cardiac health — and Pelton is setting up a way for the facility to analyze blood samples for specific biomarkers related to neurocognitive injury, vascular injury and Alzheimer’s-related proteins. Costs and logistics made this type of complex investigation previously unfeasible; now, the researchers are able to do the experiment the way they want, on the Brown campus.

Looking ahead, one major focus of Pelton’s is to introduce new tests around the pTau217 biomarker, which research strongly suggests will be an effective method to distinguish Alzheimer’s disease from other forms of dementia and also pinpoint how far Alzheimer’s disease has advanced in a given sample. Pelton also intends to expand her staff so the facility can handle more clients at one time.

Since the facility opened in May, Pelton has collaborated with researchers and clinician scientists at Brown as well as Rhode Island Hospital, Butler Hospital, the University of Rhode Island as well as a pharmaceutical company and academic researchers in Maine and Texas. Pelton has already run tests analyzing a total of 1,058 samples — a drop in the bucket, one might say, of the exploding possibilities of this new fluid biomarker research facility.

Pelton recently attended an international conference about Alzheimer’s research where the consensus on blood-based biomarkers were that they were very important to the advancement of the field.

“There's a community here, in Southern New England, that hasn't had access to this type of technology and this type of biomarker research,” Pelton said. “It’s been very exciting to be able to help fulfill that need.”

Additional reporting by Corrie Pikul.