ALSMND

IPG, founded in 2005, is inspired on its creator’s work, the physicist and civil engineer Paulo Gontijo (1932-02) who dedicated a large part of his life to understand the human diversity through science. IPG mission is to encourage and promote science. To achieve this goal, the institute organizes the PG Award, manages de Science Temple, and feeds a database about ALS. IPG seeks international scientific research promotion, through partnerships with governmental and private sector besides third parties.

Motor neurone disease (MND) researchers working in collaboration across Europe and the US have confirmed that a region of DNA within chromosome 9 plays an important role in both sporadic and familial MND; and a form of dementia called fronto-temporal dementia (FTD).

Toronto, Ontario (June 2, 2010) - To coincide with ALS Awareness month (June), the ALS Society of Canada has launched its first interactive campaign, created by Lowe Roche, Toronto, to raise awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and to raise much needed funds to go towards research for a cure for the disease.

TORONTO, May 28, 2010 - In an exciting race to the finish, Kinga Njilas has won Mike and Ike's Ante Up! contest - donating the $2,500 winnings, in cash and donated products, to the ALS Society of Canada for research into treatments and a cure for ALS.

Finding could ultimately lead to therapy for ALS

CHICAGO --- Researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have discovered a link between sporadic and familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Researchers found that a protein called FUS forms characteristic skein- like cytoplasmic inclusions in spinal motor neurons in most cases of ALS. Mutations in this gene have been previously linked to a small subset of familial ALS cases. Researchers thus linked a rare genetic cause to most cases of ALS, clearing the way for rational therapy based on a known molecular target.

The study was recently published online in the Annals of Neurology.

A study, part funded by the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association of England, Wales & Ni using money raised by Walk to d'feet MND*, and in collaboration with the ALS Association and other funding bodies, has found another genetic mistake that can cause a rare, inherited form of the disease.

This is the third MND Association co-funded research project that has resulted in the identification of a previously unknown genetic cause of MND.

On February 2008, a paper by Fornai and collaborators has been published on the journal PNAS about the use of lithium carbonate in a small series of 16 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). According to that study, lithium carbonate showed positive effects on disease progression and patients' survival, with few or no adverse events. On the basis of these extremely promising results in a disorder with a severe progressive and disabling course, a double blind, randomized, parallel group, dose-finding trial started on May 2008. The study involved 20 Italian ALS centres and was planned to last 15 months.

03 November 2009

A major new £4.6 million research initiative involving leading motor neurone disease (MND) researchers was announced yesterday evening by the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council (MRC).

It has long been suspected that similarities exist in the way nerve cells degenerate in different neurological diseases. Several recent discoveries suggest that this is particularly true for MND and a form of dementia called fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) which both have abnormal deposits of the RNA processing proteins TDP-43 and FUS.