DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for Stickler syndrome — screening already-approved drugs against its 12-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleStickler syndrome maps to a 12-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 stickler syndrome 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
collagen type II alpha 1 chain (COL2A1) — COL2A1 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 p33drag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 5NIR · 1.74 Å · ligand 3,6,9,12,15,18-HEXAOXAICOSANE-1,20-DIOL (P33). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Stickler syndrome is a hereditary connective tissue disorder caused by mutations in collagen genes, most commonly COL2A1. In a 2005 study of 90 patients from 38 families, diagnostic criteria based on type I Stickler patients with known COL2A1 mutations achieved 100% sensitivity in that molecularly confirmed group, 98% sensitivity in clinically affected patients, and 86% specificity in patients judged unaffected by clinical or molecular analysis. A 1995 paper identified a premature stop codon in the globular C-propeptide region of COL2A1 in a three-generation family, concluding that truncated C-propeptides of at least 84 amino acid residues are inadequate for a functional gene product and that premature stop codons are a common cause of Stickler syndrome.
A 2006 study of 11 patients with type II Stickler syndrome reported high myopia in 80%, lens subluxation in 70%, vitreoretinal abnormalities in 80%, and hearing loss in 50%. The authors noted that diagnosis is difficult due to phenotypic variability and overlap with other genetic syndromes. A 2021 case report described a patient with a confirmed COL2A1 mutation who presented with an isolated retinitis pigmentosa phenotype, illustrating pleiotropy and suggesting that tissue alternative splicing can alter the clinical presentation even with the same genotype. A 2014 case report of a newborn with COL2A1 mutation and family history emphasised the importance of early detection for long-term respiratory, nutritional, and developmental difficulties.
A 2024 survey of 180 Australian allied health professionals found that only 55% had heard of Stickler syndrome, and just 14% had worked with patients known to have it. Among optometrists and orthoptists, 66% recognised retinal detachment as a clinical sign, but only 41% selected cryopexy as a potential management strategy. Only 20% of all respondents recognised vitreous anomaly as a clinical feature. 69% of respondents did not feel confident managing Stickler syndromes, and 69% said they would attend professional development courses for complex conditions like Stickler syndromes. The authors concluded that targeted clinician education and multidisciplinary care programs could improve integrated care.
What remains missing is a coordinated trial design that accounts for the syndrome’s genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity, and funding for studies that stratify patients by mutation type and tissue-specific expression. Without such stratification, the clinical utility of diagnostic criteria and the effectiveness of prophylactic interventions like retinopexy cannot be reliably assessed across all Stickler syndrome subtypes.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A · 2005 · 152 citations · open access
Stickler syndrome: Clinical characteristics and diagnostic criteria
AbstractThe purpose of this study was to establish diagnostic criteria for Stickler syndrome. Ninety patients from 38 families had complete evaluations for possible Stickler syndrome. Molecular confirmation of COL2A1 mutation status (type I Stickler syndrome) was available on 25 patients from six families. In the remaining 65 patients, 47 from 25 families were affected with Stickler syndrome and 18 from seven families were unaffected with Stickler syndrome. A diagnostic nosology based on type I Stickler patients with known COL2A1 mutations was applied to clinically affected and unaffected patients. A diagnostic scale of 9 points evaluated molecular data or family history data and characteristic ocular, orofacial, auditory, and musculoskeletal findings. A score of > or =5 was diagnostic of Stickler syndrome. These criteria demonstrate 100% sensitivity when applied to type I Stickler syndrome patients with known COL2A1 mutations, 98% sensitivity when applied to clinically affected Stickler patients, and 86% specificity when applied to patients unaffected based on clinical and/or molecular analysis. We conclude that diagnostic criteria based on type I Stickler patients with molecularly confirmed COL2A1 mutations appear to be sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of this syndrome and should be helpful to clinicians when making the diagnosis.
AbstractBACKGROUND: All of the mutations in the type II procollagen (COL2A1) gene that have been identified in families affected with Stickler syndrome have been located primarily in the triple helical region of the gene. We report what we believe is the first premature stop codon in the globular C-propeptide region encoded by the COL2A1 gene, in a family affected with Stickler syndrome. DESIGN: Genomic DNA from affected and unaffected family members of this three-generation family was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. The polymerase chain reaction products were directly sequenced for DNA analysis. RESULTS: Direct sequencing showed a single base deletion in exon 50, resulting in a premature stop codon in exon 51 in the globular C-propeptide of COL2A1 gene in all affected members. CONCLUSIONS: These results implicate premature stop codons as a common cause of Stickler syndrome. The location of this premature stop codon in the far end of the nonhelical 3' end of the gene indicates that a truncated C-propeptide of at least 84 amino acid residues is inadequate for the functional gene product.
Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia · 2006 · 5 citations · open access
Avaliação genética e oftalmológica de pacientes com síndrome de Stickler tipo II
AbstractPURPOSE: To diagnose, evaluate and describe the clinical, genetic and ophthalmic characteristics of a family with type II Stickler syndrome. METHODS: X-rays for bone age, clinical and genetic evaluation were performed in all patients with ocular alterations. The Stickler syndrome diagnosis was established after correlating these examinations. RESULTS: Type II Stickler syndrome was found in 11 patients. The most important ocular findings were: high myopia (80%), lens subluxation (70%), exotropia (50%) and vitreoretinal abnormalities (80%) including vitreous cavity (50%). The clinical genetic examination disclosed that 30% of the patients had micrognathia, 50% hearing loss, 40% nasal depression and 60% high palate. Seven cases had articular hypermotility and long fingers and arthropathy was present in 3 cases. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of the Stickler syndrome is difficult due to its phenotypic variability and the existence of other genetic syndromes with similar characteristics. Hand and wrist radiographs are of particular importance in the diagnosis of this syndrome.
Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare · 2024 · 3 citations · open access
Clinician Awareness of Stickler Syndromes Among Australian Allied Health Care Professionals
AbstractPurpose: Stickler Syndromes are multisystem collagenopathies affecting 1 in 7500-9000 individuals and are associated with craniofacial, ocular, auditory, and musculoskeletal complications. Prophylactic retinopexy treatment reduces the risk of retinal detachment, emphasising the need for early detection and multidisciplinary referral. This study evaluated knowledge and awareness of Stickler Syndromes among allied health professionals and their perceived needs for targeted education to improve multidisciplinary care. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken among audiologists, speech pathologists, optometrists, orthoptists, and physiotherapists in Australia. Survey questions included practitioner demographics, awareness and knowledge of Stickler Syndromes, confidence managing Stickler Syndromes, and perception of multidisciplinary care needs for Stickler Syndromes. Results: Of 180 healthcare professions who participated (79% female; 78% aged between 25 and 44 years), 55% indicated that they had heard of Stickler Syndrome, and 14% had directly worked with patients known to have Stickler Syndromes. Practitioners who had were either optometrists, orthoptists, or audiologists. The most recognised clinical sign of Stickler Syndromes was retinal detachment (selected by 66% of optometrists and orthoptists and 16% of other professions), but only 41% of optometrists and orthoptists (27% all respondents) selected cryopexy as a potential management strategy. Vitreous anomaly was recognised as a clinical feature by 20% of all respondents. Overall, 69% of allied health professionals did not feel confident managing Stickler Syndromes, and a similar number of practitioners (69%) indicated that they were willing to attend professional development courses for complex conditions such as Stickler Syndromes. Conclusion: This study provides meaningful insights on awareness and knowledge of Stickler Syndromes among allied healthcare professionals. Targeted clinician education, enhanced communication between healthcare entities, and multidisciplinary care programs can significantly improve the integrated care of Stickler Syndromes leading to better patient outcomes.
European Journal of Ophthalmology · 2021 · 1 citations
Pleiotropy of a Stickler syndrome genotype
AbstractPurpose: To report a case of pleiotropy in the COL2A1 gene typically associated with Stickler Syndrome Type 1. Observations: A patient with a confirmed mutation of the COL2A1 gene presented with an isolated retinitis pigmentosa phenotype. Conclusions: The mutated COL2A1 gene in Stickler Syndrome Type 1 represents a site of pleiotropy, highlighting a change in phenotype across the same genotype potentially due to tissue alternative splicing.
A Case of Familial Stickler Syndrome in a Newborn with<i>COL2A1</i>Gene Mutation
AbstractStickler syndrome is a progressive, hereditary disorder of connective tissue caused by mutations in different collagen genes. It is characterized by distinctive ocular, auditory, skeletal and oro-facial abnormalities and associated with long-term respiratory, nutritional, and developmental difficulties. Therefore, early detection and early treatment of Stickler syndrome is very important. We reported a case of Stickler syndrome in a newborn with family history and COL2A1 gene mutation.
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.
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