We study the underlying mechanisms that cause ALS and Alzheimer's Disease and are testing therapeutic approaches to cure the diseases

ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that causes rapid progressive loss of voluntary muscles, resulting in death usually 2 to 5 years after diagnosis. Approximately 50 % of ALS patients also develop dementia. There is no treatment for ALS. Most people afflicted with ALS develop symptoms in their fifties. Veterans and football players have higher incidence of ALS. Our understanding into the cause(s) of ALS is rapidly evolving, due in large part to discovery and research into the genes in which mutations are linked to inheritance of ALS. One of these genes, which is the focus of our research, is UBQLN2. Mutations in UBQLN2 not only cause ALS, but also frontotemporal dementia (FTD), an unusual form of dementia that causes personality and memory problems. The research in our lab is directed toward understanding how UBQLN2 mutations cause ALS/FTD, and using this knowledge to devise rationale therapies to treat and cure the diseases. We are making wonderful progress in this quest. Check out our Research projects and Accomplishments pages to learn what we have done and the research we are currently doing.