MI:RNA secures funding for AI tool to diagnose osteoarthritis earlier …, a Scotland-based veterinary diagnostics company, is developing a noninvasive, blood-based tool to detect osteoarthritis in dogs earlier with funding from Scottish Enterprise.

The project aims to combine a novel microRNA expression panel with advanced modeling to give veterinarians a quicker, more accessible route to diagnosis for a condition that affects roughly 10 million dogs in the United Kingdom and an estimated 14 million dogs in the United States — about 24 million animals in all. Common signs of osteoarthritis in dogs include lameness, stiffness (especially when rising or after rest), and reluctance to engage in typical activities such as walking or jumping.

MI:RNA’s approach centers on a panel of microRNAs measured from a blood sample and interpreted by computational models. The company says the method is noninvasive and designed to reduce reliance on complex imaging or subjective clinical interpretation while flagging osteoarthritis earlier in the disease course. Early detection is crucial because it allows for timely management strategies to control pain and maintain mobility for affected dogs.

“The technology aims to provide a more accurate, accessible, and cost-effective method for detecting OA early in dogs,” the company said.

The diagnostic leverages what the company describes as advanced modeling combined with microRNA profiling — cellular RNA fragments that regulate gene expression — to distinguish dogs with osteoarthritis from healthy control dogs. Statistics indicate that osteoarthritis is particularly prevalent in older dogs, with age-related rates reaching up to 80% in senior dogs. MI:RNA calls the integration of molecular profiling and data-driven models the core of the test.

Scottish Enterprise provided funding to support the development work. The agency’s support is intended to help move the diagnostic from research stages toward a tool that could be used in clinical settings. Development of early detection tools like MI:RNA’s could significantly enhance veterinarians’ ability to identify at-risk or preclinical dogs.

Developers say a blood-based test could change the clinical pathway by providing an earlier indicator of joint disease than is possible through observation alone. MI:RNA frames the tool as a way to improve diagnostic consistency and accessibility for veterinarians.

Coverage of the project appears in veterinary industry reporting, including on dvm360, and the funding announcement is described in a release from Scottish Enterprise. Those accounts frame the initiative as a step toward wider adoption of molecular diagnostics in veterinary practice.

MI:RNA describes its target population for the test as dogs with osteoarthritis and healthy control dogs used in validation studies. The company emphasizes that the panel and models are being developed to be usable within typical clinical workflows without the need for advanced imaging equipment.

Advocates of earlier objective testing say it could help identify disease before severe clinical signs emerge, enabling interventions that focus on maintaining mobility and comfort. This proactive approach is essential given that the annual prevalence of osteoarthritis is about 2.5% across all dogs, with much higher rates observed in older dogs. MI:RNA and Scottish Enterprise position the project as addressing both a clinical need and a market opportunity in veterinary diagnostics.

Development remains under way, funded by Scottish Enterprise and led by MI:RNA. The project continues as the company refines the microRNA panel and modeling approach toward a potential clinical application.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.