Interview with a Scientist: "Proteomics, biomarkers and ALS", Dr. Valentina Bonetto.
Author: Laura Pozzi Ph.D., Scientific Content Manager, Atlas Antibodies AB, Sweden
No effective therapies are currently available for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis- ALS due to the lack of biomarkers for early diagnosis and monitoring disease progression. Dr. Valentina Bonetto applies proteomic assays to find validated biomarkers and innovative therapeutic strategies to treat ALS.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) belongs to a wider group of neurodegenerative disorders known as motor neuron diseases, caused by a gradual degeneration and consequent death of the motor neurons, the nerve cells telling muscles to move.
The motor neurons are responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movements like chewing, walking, breathing, and talking.
In ALS, both the upper motor neurons (in the brain) and the lower motor neurons (in the spinal cord) degenerate or die. Their signal to the muscles is interrupted, and, inevitably, the brain loses its ability to initiate and control voluntary movements. Patients affected by ALS mostly die from respiratory failure.
The pathogenic mechanisms leading to ALS onset are currently not completely clarified and no validated biomarker can detect ALS, neither for early diagnosis nor for monitoring disease progression. As a result, no effective therapies are available.