Blood transcriptomics in ALS to help diagnose, predict course, and guide drug discovery
Official title: Transcriptomics of blood samples in ALS: An untapped resource to advance diagnosis, prognosis, and drug discovery and to gain insights into molecular subtypes of disease
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11339544 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study blood gene expression patterns in people with ALS to find signatures that could help diagnose the disease earlier, predict how it will progress, and point to potential treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | July 6, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $619,212 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS148128-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11339544 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with ALS who can provide a blood sample and participate in longitudinal assessments.
✕Less likely to help
People without ALS or those unable to provide blood samples may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will collect and analyze whole blood samples from ALS patients to identify gene expression patterns associated with disease status and progression. By applying robust data methods, the team aims to distinguish ALS signals from normal variation and technical noise. The goal is to translate these blood-based signatures into tools that support earlier diagnosis, better prognosis, and new therapeutic possibilities for ALS patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster and more accurate diagnoses and have clearer information about disease progression, plus new avenues for treatment development.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies showed promise but were limited by small sizes and replication; this study builds on those efforts with larger, independent data.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feldman, Eva Lucille — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Feldman, Eva Lucille
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.