Neurodegenerative Disease News and Research

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Pall launches Leukotrap Affinity Plus Prion and Leukocyte Reduction Filter System

Pall Corporation, a global leader in filtration, separation and purification, today announced the launch of the Leukotrap® Affinity Plus Prion and Leukocyte Reduction Filter System. The new blood filter reduces prions and leukocytes in a single step.

From Pall Corporation 3 Feb 2010

CSC, ALS TDI extend collaboration in advancing potential stem cell therapy for ALS

California Stem Cell, Inc. (CSC) and ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) are pleased to announce an extension and expansion of their collaboration aimed at advancing a potential stem cell therapy for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). This effort will build on work that has already been completed as part of this on-going partnership to understand how stem cells, and their derivatives, may be applied to treatment of this fatal neurodegenerative disease.

3 Feb 2010

Project A.L.S. and Robert Packard Center for ALS Research partner in $15M research initiative

Project A.L.S. (New York, NY) and the Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD) announced that they will partner on P2 ALS, a $15 million initiative designed to advance ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) research exponentially over the next three years.

30 Jan 2010

HSF1A stimulates more protein chaperones and reduces protein misfolding

Scientists at Duke University Medical Center have found some compounds that improve a cell's ability to properly "fold" proteins and could lead to promising drugs for degenerative nerve diseases, including Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

20 Jan 2010

Molecules capable of reversing brain abnormalities in PD identified

Scientists identified several molecules capable of reversing the brain abnormalities of Parkinson's disease (PD), while also uncovering new clues for its origin in a study just published in the journal Disease Models and Mechanisms. PD is characterised by abnormal deposits of a brain protein called alpha-synuclein throughout the damaged brain regions, but exactly what they do there is not clear. The fact that their numbers and spreading are associated disease progression has made them, however, a major point of interest in PD research.

18 Jan 2010

Breakthrough discovery could lead to new treatments for a variety of CNS disorders

A breakthrough discovery by scientists at the University of Kentucky could someday lead to new treatments for a variety of diseases of the brain, spinal cord and the eye.

18 Jan 2010

ALS TDI to receive grant of $1.6M for research and development of potential therapeutics for ALS

In recognition of multiple studies connecting ALS to military service, the 2010 Defense Appropriations Act, signed by President Obama on December 22, 2009, provided for the grant of $1.6 million for research and development of potential therapeutics for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease).

12 Jan 2010

Phase 1 clinical trial of SIRT1 inhibitor for the treatment of Huntington’s Disease commenced

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that its partner, Siena Biotech S.p.A., has commenced Phase 1 clinical testing of Elixir’s potent, first-in-class SIRT1 (sirtuin-1) inhibitor for the treatment of Huntington’s Disease.

8 Jan 2010

Muscular Dystrophy Association announces milestone grant to develop new treatments for ALS

Buoyed by the extraordinary progress being made by the ALS Therapy Development Institute, the Muscular Dystrophy Association today announced a new milestone-driven grant of $2.5 million, adding to the $18 million MDA already has invested with ALS TDI -- the world's only non-profit research center focused exclusively on developing treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

7 Jan 2010

Talampanel slows progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

A drug already used to treat symptoms of epilepsy has potential to slow the muscle weakening that comes with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), scientists report after completing a Phase II clinical trial-an early, small-scale test to show if the drug works and continues to be safe.

5 Jan 2010

Research may point to more effective therapeutic targets for prion diseases

Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have determined for the first time that prions, bits of infectious protein devoid of DNA or RNA that can cause fatal neurodegenerative disease, are capable of Darwinian evolution.

4 Jan 2010

Repligen receives $731,000 to support ongoing development of new treatments for Friedreich's ataxia

Repligen Corporation today announced that the Company has received $731,000 in research funding to support the ongoing development of new treatments for Friedreich's ataxia from the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

16 Dec 2009

Scientists explore new strategies for treating neurodegenerative diseases

Studies with fruit flies have shown that the specialized nerve cells called neurons can rebuild themselves after injury.

7 Dec 2009

ISIS-FXIRx and ISIS-SMNRx included in Isis Pharmaceuticals' development pipeline

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has added two new drugs to its development pipeline, ISIS-FXIRx and ISIS-SMNRx.

4 Dec 2009

A leader in the fight against brain diseases and in drug discovery joins UF

A leader in the fight against brain diseases and in drug discovery to help Alzheimer's patients has joined the University of Florida College of Medicine, interim dean Michael Good, M.D., announced.

2 Dec 2009

Neurotoxic heavy metal can slow the progression of Lou Gehrig's disease

New discoveries have been made about how an elevated level of lead, which is a neurotoxic heavy metal, can slow the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease - findings that could point the way to a new type of therapy.

1 Dec 2009

Groundbreaking discovery provides fundamental insights into neurological disorders

Dr. Jeremy Schmahmann, Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and neurologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, on Thursday, November 19, presented his laboratory's research on the new field of study called "Connectivity" at the launch of the MINDlink Foundation.

21 Nov 2009

Alzheimer Research Forum reports on the highlights of the Society of Neuroscience conference

Between 17-21 October 2009, the 39th annual conference of the Society of Neuroscience drew some 30,500 people to the great city of Chicago, which was more balmy than windy for the occasion. Your Alzforum reporters have been busy roaming the halls, buttonholing scientists for their comments on the presentations, and putting together reports on the most significant advances.

20 Nov 2009

Neuralstem provides financial and business updates for third-quarter 2009

Neuralstem, Inc. today provided a financial and business update for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

17 Nov 2009

Study establishes link between smoking and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

While previous studies have indicated a "probable" connection between smoking and ALS, a new study published in the Nov. 17, 2009 issue of Neurology-, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, states that smoking may now be considered an "established" risk factor for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.