This research project with the Elliott Lab aims to protect the heart during chemotherapy. Using reNEW’s 30,000-novel compound library, we undertook a high-throughput screen on heart cells to find drugs that prevent doxorubicin-induced damage. With imaging and machine learning, we measure subtle changes in heart cell structures (Z-discs), going beyond simple cell counts to identify truly protective compounds.
Impact
Chemotherapy-induced heart damage is a major concern, especially for children, as it can cause lifelong health problems and reduced quality of life. By finding drugs that protect the heart without reducing cancer treatment effectiveness, we can make chemotherapy safer and improve long-term outcomes. This research uses imaging and machine learning to identify subtle but critical changes in heart cells, setting a new standard for how drug safety is assessed.
reNEW research
The primary drug screen has been completed, followed by secondary screening with concentration–response curves. The Elliott lab is now progressing to tertiary screens to further validate the most promising compounds.
Image description
The image shows a mask created using machine learning. Red indicates cardiomyocytes (CMs) expressing ACTN2 which stains the Z-discs. Purple outlines the CMs to determine which nuclei (teal) belong to CMs vs other cells such as fibroblasts.
Credits
Dr Henry Beetham, Senior Research Officer, Drug Discovery Facility, reNEW Melbourne.
Ellen Keen, PhD Student and Dr James McNamara Associate Investigator, Thomas Martinez, Research Assistant, Kathy Karavendzas Lab manager, Porrello and Elliott Labs, reNEW Melbourne.
