Margarida Maia, PhD,  science writer—

Margarida is a biochemist (University of Porto, Portugal) with a PhD in biomedical sciences (VIB and KULeuven, Belgium). Her main interest is science communication. She is also passionate about design and the dialogue between art and science.

Articles by Margarida Maia

Tambourine awards $5M to eight research projects into ALS

The Tambourine ALS Breakthrough Research Fund has committed more than $5 million in funding to eight research projects aiming to better understand, diagnose, and treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A first call for proposals was launched in May 2023 by Tambourine Philanthropies, a charitable foundation established by…

Certain spinal fluid biomarkers may predict responses to NurOwn

Treatment with NurOwn (debamestrocel), which BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics is developing for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), may bring about changes in biomarkers of inflammation and neurodegeneration that predict clinical outcomes. The findings come from the Phase 3 trial (NCT03280056) that tested NurOwn against a placebo in 189 adults with rapidly…

Edaravone formulation FAB122 fails to slow ALS progression

Note: This story was updated Jan 24, 2024, to correct that Radicava and Radicava Oral Suspension are available in Switzerland but not in other European countries. FAB122, an oral formulation of edaravone developed by Ferrer, failed to slow disease progression or extend survival in adults with amyotrophic lateral…

Stem cell-based therapy deemed safe in Phase 2 study

CL2020, a stem cell-based therapy that was being developed by the Life Science Institute, part of Mitsubishi Chemical, was found to be safe and  tolerated well by five people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who took part in a Phase 2 clinical study. The investigational therapy, which involved…

Five toxic chemicals in air may raise, by 3 to 6 times, risk of ALS

Exposure to certain toxic airborne chemicals used in industry significantly increases — by up to six times — the odds of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a study suggests. Findings underscore the importance of surveillance programs testing exposure to these airborne pollutants, especially among populations at risk. The study,…