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November 30, 2001
Aggressive Research Effort Launched to Study
Newly-Discovered Gene
The Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins is pleased to announce that
it has contracted three individual research teams to begin research on ALS2/ALSIN,
a new gene for familial ALS discovered by two independent research teams
in recent weeks. The focus of the research is to better understand the biology
of ALSIN and its role in motor neuron disease.
ALS2/ALSIN appears to be responsible for a rare form of autosomal recessive
ALS, a form of ALS that progresses quite slowly. Although familial forms
of ALS are not common, understanding individual gene defects in ALS is
essential in unraveling the mechanisms by which motor neurons and surrounding
cells in the nervous system are affected to cause this disease. ALSIN
is a newly described protein with unknown function.
PROJECTS LAUNCHED
- The Center has engaged the research laboratories of Don Cleveland
Ludwig Institute, USCD to develop a mouse model of the disease. Furthermore,
his laboratory will be aggressively pursuing the cell biology of ALSIN
and uncover its normal functions in the nervous system.
- In similar fashion, the Center will be funding a project by Dr. Philip
Wong at The Johns Hopkins University to generate an animal model of
ALSIN deficiency. Collectively, Drs. Wong and Cleveland have the world’s
greatest experience in developing animal models of ALS and are ideally
suited to carry out this extremely important research.
- Finally, to provide researchers with important tools to study ALSIN,
The Center for ALS Research Core will be generating and providing important
reagents such as antibodies to understand the basic biology of this
new protein related to ALS.
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Recent news about the Robert Packard Center
for ALS Research:
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| The Neighborhood Matters:
Packard Scientists Show Cell Environment's Important in ALS - October
2, 2003 |
| Gene
Therapy Delays Death in Mouse with Symptoms of Lou Gehrig's Disease
- August 8, 2003 |
| Tom Marcus Joins Board of
Governors - August 6, 2003 |
| Human Stem
Cells Improve Movement in Paralyzed Rats - June 27, 2003 |
| Help Track
Down Genes Associated With ALS - June 10, 2003 |
| On the Trail of Proteins
Gone Awry - June 5, 2003 |
| Consortium
Undertakes Collaborative Initiative to Screen FDA-Approved Compounds for
Treatment of ALS in Mice - April 16, 2003 |
| Center Scientist Spots Another
Major Path in ALS Model - March 14, 2003 |
| New Collaboration to Uncover
ALS Genes Announced - March 12, 2003 |
| Three Drug Cocktail Shows
Clear Benefit in Mouse ALS Models - March 8, 2003 |
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