ALS research center planned to open at Vanderbilt University

ALS research center planned to open at Vanderbilt University

A neuroscientist with a specialty in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is joining the faculty at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and will establish an ALS research center at the Nashville school. Véronique Belzil, PhD, whose work is focused on developing tailored treatments for people with ALS, also will serve…

£14.5M awarded toward ALS, other neurodegenerative disease projects

A partnership between LifeArc and the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is awarding £14.5 million (about $18.2 million) to seven research projects aimed at developing new tests, treatments, and devices for neurodegenerative diseases. “Our partnership with UK DRI allows us to identify and back the most promising translational…

Neurotoxins from bacteria found in dust around Great Salt Lake

Toxic compounds produced by cyanobacteria, which have been identified as risk factors for developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), were detected in air and earth samples collected around the Great Salt Lake in Utah, a study reports. “An understanding of the types and concentrations of cyanotoxins present in air is…

SOL-257 gene therapy improves outcomes in 2 ALS mouse models

SOL-257, an experimental one-time gene therapy, was well tolerated and significantly improved disease outcomes in two distinct mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Developed by Sola Biosciences, SOL-257 is designed to clear the toxic TDP-43 protein that accumulates and forms clumps in ALS nerve cells, contributing to…