Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a web platform designed to simplify the analysis of complex genetic data and accelerate the identification of potential drug candidates.
The tool, called GNExT (GWAS Network Exploration Tool), integrates genome-wide association study (GWAS) findings with gene mapping, systems biology and pharmacology data to help researchers identify relationships between genetic variants, proteins and biological processes.
Developed in collaboration with partners from the German Research Foundation (DFG)-funded DyHealthNet consortium, the platform aims to make large-scale genetic analysis more accessible to researchers without programming expertise.
The research, led by Professor Markus List at TUM's School of Life Sciences, was published as a Correspondence in Nature Genetics in August.
The platform also includes a scalable Nextflow pipeline, allowing researchers to upload their own datasets while retaining control of their data.
Identifying new Alzheimer’s treatment opportunities
The team demonstrated GNExT's capabilities using European population data from the Pan-UK Biobank, applying the platform to Alzheimer's disease research.
By analysing genetic associations alongside biological networks and drug-protein interactions, the researchers prioritised seven potential drug candidates for further investigation.
The findings could support drug repurposing, whereby existing medicines approved for one indication are investigated for their potential to treat another condition.
This approach is attracting interest across pharmaceutical research, particularly in complex diseases where identifying new therapeutic targets can be challenging.
A 2025 review in Nature Communications highlighted the growing role of computational approaches, multi-omics data and network-based analysis in identifying potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
However, GNExT's seven candidates remain hypotheses rather than validated treatments — further experimental and clinical studies are needed to establish their suitability for Alzheimer's disease.
Supporting wider genomic research
The researchers believe GNExT could have applications beyond neurodegenerative diseases, providing a more accessible way to investigate relationships between genetic variants and multiple health conditions.
Its ability to connect findings across different traits could help researchers uncover biological relationships that might otherwise be overlooked, supporting earlier-stage target identification and drug discovery research.
