Italian Foundation Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: the research continues – Corriere.it

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The Italian ALS Research Foundation, Ari SLA, adheres to the SLA GLOBAL DAY, which is celebrated on June 21 around the world, offering un framework of Italian research on ALS through an analysis of the data collected in over ten years of funding of the best scientific projects in this field. «For years this day has represented an opportunity for AriSLA to analyze the scientific research supported – affirms the president of AriSLA, Mario Melazzini – sharing some information that testifies how fundamental it is to continue to have faith in research. The over 100 applications received at our latest call, the results achieved to date by the funded studies are signs that tell us that, even in the most difficult moments like the one we are experiencing, research on ALS must go on, always keeping an eye on the needs of patients “.

Investments

From 2009 to today AriSLA has invested over 13.2 million euros in activities, financing 85 projects, 18 of which are currently underway, in various fields (basic, preclinical and translational, clinical and technological research) and supporting 136 researchers selected through 14 calls. Over the years, AriSLA has financed various projects, especially the Pilot Grant, studies with very original and innovative hypotheses, has made it possible to bring new researchers closer to the study of ALS, even very young:In fact, 50% of Pilot Grant coordinators had never dealt with SLA before and 35% of them are under 40 years old. Furthermore, support for Pilot Grants sees female researchers at the forefront, since they represent half of the scientific leaders.


The confirmations

Among the data collected it also emerges that gThe Foundation’s investments supported 45% of all Italian Institutes that have published at least two articles on ALS and that numerous researchers have been able to give continuity to their research, arriving at results that have made it possible to obtain funds also from other bodies: as many as 25 researchers have obtained 43 additional funding from other public or private, national or international bodies. Furthermore, the‘Receiving an AriSLA grant has enabled researchers to expand their research network: in fact, 39 researchers (or 88.6% of the respondents to the questionnaire prepared by the Foundation) indicated that thanks to AriSLA funding they were able to strengthen their network of collaborations.

International awards

GAriSLA-funded studies resulted in 277 international publications (source Web of Science, period 2010 – 2020), a fact that confirms how these researches have contributed to building scientific knowledge of international level, providing the basis for other studies. The recognition by the international community of the results achieved is also highlighted by the analysis dei National Institutes of Health Americans who place 64% of AriSLA publications among the high impact articles in the reference scientific area and 26% among those with very high impact. The latter studies were often conducted with international collaborations, but Italian leadership was prevalent.

The results

Over the years, AriSLA-funded studies have made a significant contribution to discovery of new genetic mutations that cause the disease and have made it possible to study the function of new molecules useful for slowing the progression of ALS. The financing of technological research projects has allowed the design of tools to support daily life and highly technological electronic aids for communication and motor skills. AriSLA has supported four multicentre trials on ALS, promoting the activities of a clinical network that involves numerous centers of excellence throughout the national territory. Among the latest results, those of a clinical study published in the journal Brain , in which a slowdown in the progression of some forms of the disease was identified following a combined treatment of riluzole plus guanabenz, giving indications for a possible future confirmatory clinical trial. The results of the basic research also include those published on Cell Death Discovery which led to the identification of potential prognostic biomarkers of ALS, a sort of molecular “signature” capable of giving indications on the progression of the disease. The data from another study, published in E.MBO Reports e Cell Stress & Chaperones, thanks to which two mechanisms have been identified that can contribute to the development of very complex neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal dementia or some forms of myopathies.

June 21, 2021 (change June 21, 2021 | 17:10)

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