12/10/2015
Dear Say True Films and
DGE Inspired Film,
There has never been a more exciting time when it comes to ALS research. We are committed to finding treatments to help slow or stop this disease. Progress is being made, thanks to your support.
In 2011, scientists funded by The ALS Association identified the most common genetic cause of ALS: C9orf72. Over the last few years, researchers have continued to make discoveries around the biology of this irregularity.
Within the last month, scientists have made exciting advancements. In one study, scientists used fruit flies to determine that abnormal protein production damages neurons in the most common genetic form of ALS. And two independent studies found that a key driver of the development of ALS due to this mutation is an export-import imbalance between the cell’s nucleus and its non-nuclear portion, or cytoplasm.
What does this mean for people with ALS? When we understand more about the biology of this mutation, we can develop strategies to target the disease process.
Leveraging this promising new knowledge about C9orf72, The ALS Association has partnered with several pharmaceutical companies to invest in drug development. If we know how ALS disease progression works, we can develop drugs to target it and, hopefully, slow or stop it.
To do that, we need your continued support.
