rhHsc70 is not a therapeutic viability in preserving neuromuscular junction innervation in the SOD1 mouse model of ALS

The Mulligan Lab at Wake Forest University was working on a dose response study of the Hsp70 protein with the hopes that their ALS scientists and clinicians would be able to start to design initial clinical trials in patients. Unexpectedly, the protein does not prevent neuromuscular junction denervation in the mouse model of ALS.

Freezer Dedication at University of Maryland Brain and Tissue Bank

Tissue donation, harvesting, and storage is a much needed aspect in the WaronALS and finding a cure. Your fundraising has allowed the BMF to purchase two large (-)80 degree Celsius freezers that will allow University of Maryland Brain and Tissue Bank to continue to recover tissue from the generous ALS community. Dedication of these freezers in Jon’s memory took place on August 30th, Jon’s birthday. More information available in our newsletter on the Research page.

ALS Tissue Donation Program Impacts Research

In a collaborative study between the National Institute of Health, the University of Maryland and the University of Michigan, researchers used a 7 tesla (high intensity) MRI to image the donated brains from donors with ALS and compared the findings to those obtained from donors without ALS. The spinal cord, brain and muscle samples used in the study were recovered by the University of Maryland Brain and Tissue Bank, which is supported by a grant from the Blazeman Foundation. Dr. Kwan (co-author) provides a summary of the study. For a more in-depth analysis, read the journal article from NeuroImage: Clinical 15 (2017) 200-208.

ALS Research update from Brandeis

Dr. Rodal’s lab continues to investigate  how TDP-43 leads to growth signaling defects in the fruit fly model as well as  continuing to pursue the role of calcium channels in their mammalian models of ALS. Their progress report summarizes the past four years of research supported by the BMF and gives a look into next steps (how relevant are these pathways for progression of cellular pathology in human patients?). For a more detailed version of their work, please see the unabridged version.

BMF for ALS “Postdoctural Fellow” will examine a Protein’s Effect in Human Cells