Steve Bryson, PhD,  science writer—

Steve holds a PhD in biochemistry from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Canada. As a medical scientist for 18 years, he worked in both academia and industry, where his research focused on the discovery of new vaccines and medicines to treat inflammatory disorders and infectious diseases. Steve is a published author in multiple peer-reviewed scientific journals and a patented inventor.

Articles by Steve Bryson

ALS gene therapy prepares to move to clinical trials in China, US

China’s National Medical Products Administration has granted Sineugene Therapeutics permission to begin clinical trials of its gene therapy SNUG01 in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), clearing the way for clinical trials. The announcement follows a similar decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It sets…

Exposure to air pollutant sulfur dioxide tied to greater ALS risk

Long-term exposure to sulfur dioxide (SO2), a gaseous air pollutant generated by the burning of fossil fuels, significantly increases the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a study in Canada. Exposure to other forms of air pollution, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ground-level ozone (O3), and PM2.5…

FDA grants orphan drug status to ALS gene therapy SNUG01

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug status to Sineugene Therapeutics‘ SNUG01, a gene therapy for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The designation is given to potential treatments for rare diseases, or those affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. It provides…

Neighborhood disadvantage linked to shorter survival time in ALS

Neighborhood disadvantage, or living in regions with poorer socioeconomic conditions, is significantly associated with shorter survival time among people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a new Michigan-based study. For those living in neighborhoods considered to be among the top 10% of the most disadvantaged, survival was reduced…

Study: Machine learning uncovers new genes associated with ALS

A machine learning analysis of gene activity in spinal cord samples from people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) revealed new genes associated with the neurodegenerative disorder, a study reports. The newly identified genes included those involved in the function of energy-producing mitochondria, lipid (fat) and iron metabolism, and the…