The grants fund six new ALS projects, each using a different
mechanism to uncover the causes of the disease and potential
treatments Six new ALS grants totaling $2 million are aimed at
understanding the underlying causes of amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis, stopping the loss of motor neurons and developing
future therapies for the disease. Areas of investigation
include: ALS modifier genes; signaling by molecules called
semaphorins; protein misfolding; FUS mutations; TDP43
phosphorylation; and autophagy. Funding for the grants became
effective Feb. 1, 2012. Six new MDA grants totaling $2 million
have been awarded to research projects seeking to uncover the
basic mechanisms that drive ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis),
with an eye toward the development of future therapies. The
grants took effect Feb. 1. "It's exciting to see that recent
scientific advances in ALS have spurred the funding of promising
new areas of research," said MDA Vice President of Research
Sanjay Bidichandani. "That's what happens when rese