The Research Group in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) was founded in 2016 with the aim of characterizing the causes of this terrible disease among the Spanish population, particularly its molecular causes.
Its goals are not only focused on the genetic and molecular study of ALS, but also extend to another very relevant neurodegenerative pathology, frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
The discovery of molecular biomarkers is the motor that continuously drives our group, which is focused on reducing the time of diagnostic delay, and on finding techniques that allow for achieving a more homogeneous monitoring of patients and a greater prognostic capacity.
In the context of our line of research in the genetics of ALS and FTD among the Spanish population, and owing to our collaboration with the research group led by Dr. John Landers of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Massachusetts (Worcester), we have participated in the discovery of the following new genes related to ALS: TUBA4A, CCNF, NEK1, TBK1, ANXA11 or KIF5.
In the context of our other line of research aimed at identifying biomarkers of ALS and FTD, we cooperate with the group led by Dr. Rosario Osta Pinzolas of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Universidad de Zaragoza, owing to which we have published and patented a gene expression panel for the study of this disease.
