DeCure's autonomous Psychiatry AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for pervasive developmental disorder — screening already-approved drugs against its 8-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease modulePervasive developmental disorder maps to a 8-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Current lead
No approved-drug candidate for pervasive developmental disorder is corroborated in the literature DeepSearch retrieved. Some conditions are managed with non-pharmacological care — a device, surgery or physical therapy — rather than a medicine; that may be the case here, or the literature we found may simply be too sparse yet to support a drug-repurposing angle.
Molecular view
pseudouridine synthase 7 (PUS7) — PUS7 is one of the genes genetically linked to this disease in Open Targets — shown as context, not as a drug target we're pursuing: no approved-drug candidate for this disease is yet corroborated in the literature we found.
Loading structure…
helix sheet unxdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 5KKP · 2.26 Å · ligand UNKNOWN ATOM OR ION (UNX). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2006 study of 862 children and adolescents with mental retardation in the Netherlands found that one in ten used psychotropic medication. The main factors associated with psychotropic drug use were pervasive developmental disorder and disruptive behaviour. Antipsychotic drugs were associated with pervasive developmental disorder; clonidine was associated with self-absorbed behaviour; and stimulants were associated with disruptive behaviour. The authors note that clonidine and risperidone were not registered for the problems reported, and that other nonstimulants were only sometimes used on-label.
A 1998 review of molecular mechanisms in four developmental disorders (Prader-Willi syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Williams syndrome, and lissencephaly) discusses how mutations within identified genes disrupt normal cognitive and behavioural functioning. The review states that considerable progress has been achieved in understanding the genetic mechanisms for these illnesses, but that much more research is needed to identify the environmental and genetic factors that interact to contribute to the expression of more complex behavioural disorders.
A 1988 introduction to neurodevelopmental treatment (Bobath treatment) for developmentally delayed infants and children discusses its history and philosophy, illustrates examples of children before and after intervention, and addresses current controversies in measuring therapy efficacy. A 2021 editorial notes that one in six children in the USA has a developmental disability, and that expanding research is fundamental to improving diagnosis, preventing progression, and treating these conditions.
What is still missing is a clear understanding of the genetic and environmental interactions that produce complex behavioural disorders, and rigorous evidence for the efficacy of the treatments that are currently prescribed off-label. No trial has established that any drug or therapy alters the course of pervasive developmental disorder itself, rather than managing associated behaviours. Patient stratification by genetic subtype and adequately funded, controlled trials are absent.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Development and Psychopathology · 1998 · 18 citations
Molecular mechanisms of developmental disorders
AbstractOne of the central tenets of developmental psychopathology is the belief that we can learn more about normal functioning through the study of psychopathology and arrive at a better understanding of pathological conditions through investigations of normal behavior. Advances in knowledge from one area will inform us regarding mechanisms at work in the other. A similar perspective is the driving force behind recent scientific advances in our understanding of certain developmental disorders. In this paper, molecular findings for four developmental disorders are reviewed: Prader-Willi syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Williams syndrome, and lissencephaly. These disorders were chosen for discussion because putative genes for each of them have been isolated. The ways in which mutations within these genes disrupt normal cognitive and behavioral functioning are discussed. Although considerable progress has been achieved in understanding the genetic mechanisms for these illnesses, much more research is needed to identify the environmental and genetic factors that interact to contribute to the expression of the more complex behavioral disorders.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Behavior Problems, and Psychotropic Drug Use in Children and Adolescents With Mental Retardation
AbstractOBJECTIVE: This study investigated the interrelationship between psychopharmacotherapy in general and the use of specific psychotropic drugs and pervasive developmental disorder and other behavior problems in children and adolescents with mental retardation. METHODS: A total of 862 participants 4 to 18 years of age, including all levels of mental retardation, were recruited through facilities for children with mental retardation in Friesland, The Netherlands. Information on medication was collected through parent interviews. Behavior problems were investigated with a standardized parent questionnaire (Developmental Behavior Checklist). A pervasive developmental disorder classification was based on the Pervasive Developmental Disorder in Mental Retardation Scale, completed by psychologists or teachers. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the use of psychotropic drugs and pervasive developmental disorder and other behavioral problems, in the presence of possible confounders. RESULTS: One of 10 participants used psychotropic medication. The main factors associated with psychotropic drug use were pervasive developmental disorder and disruptive behavior. The level of functioning was also associated. Self-absorbed behavior was statistically significantly associated with clonidine use and disruptive behavior with stimulant use. Pervasive developmental disorder and communication problems were the main factors associated with the use of antipsychotic drugs. Age also played a role, whereas gender, living situation, and level of mental retardation did not. CONCLUSIONS: Antipsychotic drugs were associated with pervasive developmental disorder, whereas clonidine and stimulants were associated with self-absorbed and disruptive behavior, respectively. Although clonidine and risperidone are not registered for the problems reported and the other nonstimulants were only sometimes used on-label, their use was associated with specific psychiatric or behavioral problems.
Neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT): Therapeutic intervention and its efficacy
AbstractNeurodevelopmental (Bobath) treatment (NDT) is currently practiced by a great many therapists working with developmentally delayed infants and children. This is a general introduction geared for the nontherapist that discusses some of the history, philosophy, and treatment emphasis of NDT. Examples of children before and after therapeutic intervention are illustrated and a discussion of the current controversies in measuring therapy efficacy is addressed.
Developmental disorders Journal Meeting: a collaboration between Development and Disease Models & Mechanisms
AbstractDevelopmental disorders present at birth or arise during childhood, leading to physical or intellectual disabilities with long-term effects on morbidity. According to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six children in the USA has a developmental disability that affects their education and lifestyle These disorders encompass a wide range of conditions, and are caused by genetic and/or environmental factors. Expanding research in this area is fundamental to improving diagnosis, preventing progression and treating these conditions. At Disease Models & Mechanisms (DMM), we have a strong interest in research that delineates the mechanisms that underlie developmental disorders, with a dedicated collection of Reviews, Perspectives and Research articles. We pursue pre-clinical modelling to discover new mechanistic insights with a view towards how this can support children and their families, and inform their care.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
DeCure is a research and publication project, not medical advice and not a treatment. "DeCure for X" describes a research goal, not a claim that a cure exists. Backing a cure is a contribution to fund the research — it is not an investment, and confers no yield, royalty, equity or IP ownership. Papers are published open-access by the DeCure.ai DAO.
