Medical/Research Professionals

Basic and Clinical Research

The research lab is actively pursuing ways to better understand ALS and to treat and modify disease progression. The laboratory is small, so that collaborations with other researchers and with industry are very important. Most of the work uses the SOD1 mouse model of ALS, which has been genetically engineered to carry the mutated human gene for SOD1 (superoxide dismutase). Mutant SOD1 is responsible for 20% of the cases of hereditary ALS. These transgenic mice develop weakness and pathology that is very similar to people with ALS, providing an excellent model with which to study the disease. All supporters of the ALS Hope Foundation are invited to visit the labs and get a first hand glimpse of the research efforts.