SOD1 protein aggregates can spread in a prion-like way, rapidly causing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) when injected into the spinal cord of mice carrying a human mutated SOD1 gene. The results, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, substantially advance insights into mechanisms in hereditary ALS, and…
May marks ALS Awareness Month, a grassroots campaign led by the ALS Association to improve understanding of, and raise research money for, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Each May the ALS Association sponsors activities that include National ALS Advocacy Day, leading a delegation of ALS patients, their caregivers, and other advocates to Capitol Hill to urge…
Researchers using a miniature microscope saw that glial cells, called astrocytes, contribute to sensory nerve transmission in the spinal cord of awake and moving animals. Offering unparalleled insights into the workings of the spinal cord, the tool may lead to new treatments for a range of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation has awarded a $25,000 New Century Scholars Research Grant to neuroscientist Jonathan Brumberg to develop a brain-computer interface (BCI) that directly controls existing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. The platform is expected to aid people with profound speech and motor impairments due to neurodegenerative disorders such as…
University of Florida Health researchers have developed a mouse model of the most common genetic mutation that causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The model, which captures the molecular, behavioral, and neurodegenerative features of the disease, could greatly aid in the development of more effective therapeutic agents. The paper detailing the model,…
The University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) has announced that a new UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences will be established, made possible by $185 million in funding — the largest-ever gift to the university and one of the largest ever made to support the neurosciences in the U.S. —…
Results from the Phase 3 trial of edaravone (MCI-186) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were presented by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology held April 15-21 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Phase 3 MCI-186-19 clinical study has reportedly met its primary efficacy endpoint of mean change…
The ALS Association and the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) announced the 2016 winners of its Clinical Research Training Fellowship and Clinician-Scientist Development Award in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research. The awards are given annually to young clinicians who propose promising and innovative ALS studies, both to foster their professional development…
Lauren Sciences, LLC, which specializes in medicines for neurodegenerative disorders using its V-Smart drug delivery platform, announced that it has received a second grant from the ALS Association to continue developing LAUR-301, a V-Smart nanomedicine targeting brain areas affected by motor neuron death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). LAUR-301, developed using the V-Smart platform nanotechnology, is…
The ALS Association and the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) have chosen Professor Ammar Al-Chalabi of King’s College London to receive the 2016 Sheila Essey Award, honoring his contributions to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research and treatment. Ammar Al-Chalabi Dr. Al-Chalabi will be given the…
