UDSM student pioneer’s computer-based search for schizophrenia treatment

DAR ES SALAAM: A STUDENT at the University of Dar es Salaam’s College of Education (DUCE), Anthony Tepeli, has used computer-based laboratory research to identify potential compounds for treating schizophrenia, underscoring the growing role of digital tools in drug discovery and mental health research.

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe mental illness that affects a person’s ability to think, feel and behave clearly. Individuals living with the condition may struggle to distinguish between their own thoughts and external reality, often experiencing hallucinations, delusions and disorganised thinking.

Mr Tepeli, a third-year student, spent 10 months conducting the study, which relied on computational modelling rather than traditional laboratory experiments. His research focused on simulating drug interactions using digital platforms to accelerate the identification of promising therapeutic compounds.

The work earned him second place in the best research category during the University of Dar es Salaam’s Research and Innovation Week held last month, where it was recognised among outstanding student-led scientific projects.

Speaking at the ongoing 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), commonly known as Sabasaba, Mr Tepeli said the research was motivated by the high prevalence of stress-related conditions in society, which he noted can escalate into serious mental health disorders such as schizophrenia.

He said conventional laboratory drug discovery is often costly and timeconsuming, while computer-based approaches can significantly reduce both financial and time constraints by simulating interactions between drug compounds and human proteins.

“I focused on identifying compounds similar to Xanomeline, a drug currently used in the treatment of schizophrenia but associated with limitations that researchers continue to study.

“Using a pharmacological database, I screened more than 1,000 compounds with similar molecular structures,’’ he said adding:

“On the computer, there is a database where all drugs and their structures are stored. I selected over 1,000 compounds that resemble Xanomeline.” He explained that the process involved simulating how each compound interacts with specific proteins in the human body linked to schizophrenia, measuring how effectively each drug binds and the level of energy generated in those interactions.

According to him, the simulations aimed to replicate how drugs behave once ingested and absorbed into the body. “The protein contains information similar to what exists in the human body. We then test how the drug binds to it, which is similar to what happens when a person takes medication and it starts working inside the body,” he said.

Mr Tepeli said the results identified five promising compounds, with two showing particularly strong potential for further investigation and possible clinical trials, based on their predicted effectiveness and safety profiles in simulation.

He said the findings suggest that computer-aided drug discovery could play a growing role in accelerating pharmaceutical research in Tanzania, especially in areas such as mental health where treatment needs remain significant.