Visualization

Challenge    I work in biomedical research, with a particular interest in the development of new drugs

for diseases. There are some instances where we know very specifically the cause of a disease,  and at the biochemical and molecular level we can design very specific drugs to modify the  single gene or protein that is dysfunctional in the disease. There are other times when multiple  factors contribute to the disease, where several biochemical factors within a cell may contribute  to the overall disease state.     The challenge for these multifactorial disease states is to design drug therapies, either

individual drugs or combinations of drugs, that can effectively target the multiple parts of the cell  that are dysfunctional to try to restore function and reduce symptoms of the disease, while  minimizing the impact on processes within the cell that are functioning normally. Visualization  of the potential drug targets through mind mapping could be a useful first step in taking a design  thinking approach to developing new treatments for challenging diseases.     Selection    Visualization, in particular mind maps, are an important first step in approaching these

multifactorial disease states. Since biochemical pathways within cells are often drawn using an  organization chart-like approach, mind maps are a very useful way to start the process. I would  therefore draw out the pathways within target cells that are known to be dysfunctional, alongside  many of the other biochemical pathways that are important in regulating the specific functions of  that cell type. It is important that the individuals participating in the design process have varied  backgrounds, from clinical medicine to various sub-disciplines in biology (pharmacology;  biochemistry; molecular biology; etc).    As an example, when designing a therapy that targets a particular type of cancer cell that

is found within the stomach, I would draw out the pathways that play a role in causing that cell to  behave in a negative way (excessive growth; metastasis, or migrating from their normal location  in the body to another location; etc) alongside the biochemical pathways important for the  function of that cell in normal physiological processes (acid secretion; contraction to move food  down the digestive track; etc). This allows for an effective overview of the disease pathways  while allowing the design team to consider how these pathways might impact the normal  function of the cell in order to minimize potential side effects.     Application and Insight    Once the pathways are drawn out, the next step is to identify the potential targets in the

pathway. There may be several proteins that are defective in the disease, and the therapeutic  approach is to either activate proteins that are inactive but otherwise should be active, or to  inhibit overactive proteins or the genes that encode them. The goal for the application of the tool  at this point is to identify potential genes or proteins that can be effectively targeted while  minimizing side effects. As signaling proteins often act in sequence, with one specific protein  activating multiple downstream proteins, you want to pick a protein that is upstream enough in  the process it controls the activity of several downstream proteins that are causing the disease  state, but does not control the activity of other proteins that are critical for normal cellular  function. Mind mapping therefore provides an effective visualization tool to enable design teams  to effectively consider potential targets for drug design.

Once the potential protein or gene targets have been identified, the next step in the

process is to identify how you will modify them. This would require a second mind map to be  generated. The technology to modify the activity of these proteins genes can vary, from small  molecule drugs that you can ingest in pill form that can modify protein activity, to protein  therapies that have to be delivered by injection because they would otherwise be degraded in oral  form, to gene therapies which use modified viruses to infect specific cells and deliver genes to  modify dysfunctional pathways. There are other potential therapies, but in general most therapies  fall into one of these three categories. For difficult to reach areas of the body, traditional delivery  methods may be insufficient. Therefore the approach may need to be modified by different types  of carrier compounds (special types of capsules; topical application; chemical scaffolds; etc),  new protein delivery devices, or other ways of delivering the targeted drug to improve the  disease state.     Alternative Approach    There may be times when mind mapping may be an ineffective way to develop solutions

in drug development. Another approach that could be useful is storytelling. This could be helpful  for diseases that are particularly challenging to design drugs for, and where other creative, non- traditional thinking has led to breakthroughs. Hearing from drug design teams that have  encountered challenges with drug delivery that parallel your disease of interest may therefore be  beneficial.     Storytelling could also be a useful way to provide design thinking input for patient

perspectives. If a drug is designed that can effectively treat a disease, but requires complicated  dosing or delivery methods, it may not be appealing for patients to use. Storytelling would be a  complementary technique to mind mapping visualization to allow a drug development team to  hear about practical issues alongside the physiology and biochemistry of a disease.


Visualization Challenge I work in biomedical research , with a particular interest in the development of new drugs for diseases . There are some instances where we know very specifically the cause of a disease , and at the biochemical and molecular level we can design very specific drugs to modify the single gene or protein that is dysfunctional in the disease . There are other times when multiple factors contribute to the disease , where several biochemical factors within a cell may contribute to the overall disease state . The challenge for these multifactorial disease states is to design drug therapies , either individual drugs or combinations of drugs , that can effectively target the multiple parts of the cell that are dysfunctional to try to restore function and reduce symptoms of the disease , while minimizing the impact on processes within the cell that are functioning normally . Visualization of the potential drug targets through mind mapping could be a useful first step in taking a design thinking approach to developing new treatments for challenging diseases . Selection Visualization , in particular mind maps , are an important first step in approaching these multifactorial disease states . Since biochemical pathways within cells are often drawn using an organization chart - like approach , mind maps are a very useful way to start the process . I would therefore draw out the pathways within target cells that are known to be dysfunctional , alongside many of the other biochemical pathways that are important in regulating the specific functions of that cell type . It is important that the individuals participating in the design process have varied backgrounds , from clinical medicine to various sub - disciplines in biology ( pharmacology ; biochemistry ; molecular biology ; etc ) . As an example , when designing a therapy that targets a particular type of cancer cell that is found within the stomach , I would draw out the pathways that play a role in causing that cell to behave in a negative way ( excessive growth ; metastasis , or migrating from their normal location in the body to another location ; etc ) alongside the biochemical pathways important for the function of that cell in normal physiological processes ( acid secretion ; contraction to move food down the digestive track ; etc ) . This allows for an effective overview of the disease pathways while allowing the design team to consider how these pathways might impact the normal function of the cell in order to minimize potential side effects . Application and Insight Once the pathways are drawn out , the next step is to identify the potential targets in the pathway . There may be several proteins that are defective in the disease , and the therapeutic approach is to either activate proteins that are inactive but otherwise should be active , or to inhibit overactive proteins or the genes that encode them . The goal for the application of the tool at this point is to identify potential genes or proteins that can be effectively targeted while minimizing side effects . As signaling proteins often act in sequence , with one specific protein activating multiple downstream proteins , you want to pick a protein that is upstream enough in the process it controls the activity of several downstream proteins that are causing the disease state , but does not control the activity of other proteins that are critical for normal cellular function . Mind mapping therefore provides an effective visualization tool to enable design teams to effectively consider potential targets for drug design . Once the potential protein or gene targets have been identified , the next step in the process is to identify how you will modify them . This would require a second mind map to be generated . The technology to modify the activity of these proteins genes can vary , from small molecule drugs that you can ingest in pill form that can modify protein activity , to protein therapies that have to be delivered by injection because they would otherwise be degraded in oral form , to gene therapies which use modified viruses to infect specific cells and deliver genes to modify dysfunctional pathways . There are other potential therapies , but in general most therapies fall into one of these three categories . For difficult to reach areas of the body , traditional delivery methods may be insufficient . Therefore the approach may need to be modified by different types of carrier compounds ( special types of capsules ; topical application ; chemical scaffolds ; etc ) , new protein delivery devices , or other ways of delivering the targeted drug to improve the disease state . Alternative Approach There may be times when mind mapping may be an ineffective way to develop solutions in drug development . Another approach that could be useful is storytelling . This could be helpful for diseases that are particularly challenging to design drugs for , and where other creative , non- traditional thinking has led to breakthroughs . Hearing from drug design teams that have encountered challenges with drug delivery that parallel your disease of interest may therefore be beneficial . Storytelling could also be a useful way to provide design thinking input for patient perspectives . If a drug is designed that can effectively treat a disease , but requires complicated dosing or delivery methods , it may not be appealing for patients to use . Storytelling would be a complementary technique to mind mapping visualization to allow a drug development team to hear about practical issues alongside the physiology and biochemistry of a disease .