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Photo of Chantell Evans
Chantell Evans Tracks Mitochondrial Cleanup in Neurons
The Duke University cell biologist uses live-cell microscopy to reveal how brain cells rid themselves of damaged mitochondria and what goes wrong in neurodegenerative disease.
Chantell Evans Tracks Mitochondrial Cleanup in Neurons
Chantell Evans Tracks Mitochondrial Cleanup in Neurons

The Duke University cell biologist uses live-cell microscopy to reveal how brain cells rid themselves of damaged mitochondria and what goes wrong in neurodegenerative disease.

The Duke University cell biologist uses live-cell microscopy to reveal how brain cells rid themselves of damaged mitochondria and what goes wrong in neurodegenerative disease.

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Professor Alexandra Whiteley and graduate student Autumn Matthews look at an image of a western blot on their laboratory computer.
An Ancient Viral Protein May Play a Key Role in ALS
Aditi Subramaniam, PhD | Aug 15, 2023 | 4 min read
Researchers find that UBQLN2 gene dysfunction causes a virus-like protein to accumulate in cells, which changes gene expression and may contribute to disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
X-ray view of human brain with blood vessels
ApoA1 Identified as a Novel Target for ALS Therapy
Jennifer Zieba, PhD | Dec 12, 2022 | 3 min read
Researchers found that the ApoA1 protein can restore ALS epithelial cell survival in vitro.
Journal club logo on purple background
The Scientist's Journal Club: Transcriptomics
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team | 2 min read
Scientists discuss their latest findings on immune cell dynamics, neurodegenerative disease risk factors, and rare cell types obtained from bulk and single cell RNA sequencing experiments.
Photo of Ankara Jain in his lab
Ankur Jain Explores RNA Aggregations in Neurodegenerative Disease
Hannah Thomasy, PhD | Oct 3, 2022 | 3 min read
The MIT biologist studies how RNA molecules self-assemble and the role these accumulations may play in diseases such as ALS and Huntington’s.
A 3D rendering of a neuron
Independent FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Approving ALS Drug
Amanda Heidt | Sep 8, 2022 | 4 min read
The group’s 7-2 ruling in favor of the therapeutic represents a shift from previous deliberations, in which data on its effectiveness was deemed insufficient.
Abstract blue brain image
Integrating Technologies into Neurodegenerative Disease Research
Thermo Fisher Scientific | 1 min read
Genetic analysis techniques give researchers the power to better understand, detect, and treat disease.
Motor neurons, undergoing degeneration in ALS
Mutant T Cells That Drive Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Progression May React To a Brain Antigen
Nele Haelterman, PhD | Aug 8, 2022 | 4 min read
Scientists discovered a possibly autoreactive T cell population that forecasts and supports disease progression.
A conceptual 3D illustration of motor neurons degrading
Canada Approves Experimental ALS Therapy
Andy Carstens | Jun 14, 2022 | 3 min read
The country’s provisional go-ahead could increase pressure already being exerted on the US Food and Drug Administration to approve the therapy.
TSS
Immune Cells and ALS: A Balance Between Life and Death
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team | 1 min read
Understanding the role of immune cells in neurodegeneration may help scientists develop new diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment tools.
Electrode array, with needle-like electrodes facing upward
Brain Implant Allows Completely Paralyzed Patient to Communicate
Natalia Mesa, PhD | Mar 24, 2022 | 4 min read
The patient, who has ALS, is able to communicate in complete sentences by deliberately altering his brain’s activity.
An artist's rendition of an RNA molecule in light blue on a dark blue background
Same RNA Acts in Neurodegeneration and Cancer
Abby Olena, PhD | Oct 29, 2021 | 3 min read
The long noncoding RNA MINCR, implicated in ALS and Alzheimer’s disease as well as several types of cancer, appears to function differently when present at high versus low levels.
Discovering the Secrets of Motor Neurons with Single Cell Sequencing
LabTalk Podcast - Discovering the Secrets of Motor Neurons with Single Cell Sequencing
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team and 10x Genomics | 1 min read
Researchers identify new motor neuron subgroups and gain insights into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
An illustration of a yeast cell (right) and a human neuron (left) showing the processes/features that are similar in the two
Infographic: Modeling Neurodegenerative Diseases with Yeast
Mahlon Collins | Oct 1, 2021 | 3 min read
Conservation of structures and functions between single-celled fungi and human cells allow researchers to probe the brain.
Photographs of the October 2021 issue's contributors
Contributors
The Scientist Staff | Oct 1, 2021 | 3 min read
Meet some of the people featured in the October 2021 issue of The Scientist.
Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the unicellular yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, known as Baker's or Brewer's yeast.
Yeast Models Provide New Insights into Neurodegenerative Diseases
Mahlon Collins | Oct 1, 2021 | 10+ min read
The single-celled fungus allows researchers to study Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS and other brain diseases with unparalleled speed and scale.
New Drug Combo for ALS Slows Decline in Small Clinical Study
Jef Akst | Sep 3, 2020 | 3 min read
After six months, patients with fast-progressing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who had received the experimental treatment had less loss of function than those who received a placebo.
Symptoms in ALS Mouse Model Improve with CRISPR Base Editing
Abby Olena, PhD | Apr 10, 2020 | 4 min read
Researchers slowed disease progression in the mice by injecting two different viral vectors, each containing one part of the DNA encoding the Cas9 protein, to edit the causative gene.
“Hero” Proteins May Shield Other Proteins from Harm
Emma Yasinski | Mar 19, 2020 | 3 min read
Flexible proteins appear to protect molecules from becoming denatured in extreme conditions such as heat and from clumping up, as happens in some neurodegenerative diseases.
Commensal Bacterium Reduces ALS Symptoms in Mice
Jef Akst | Jul 24, 2019 | 2 min read
Boosting the levels of Akkermansia muciniphila in mouse guts slowed the progression of an ALS-like disease, while two other microbiome members were associated with more severe symptoms.
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