How motor nerve cells' activity is controlled in ALS
Official title: Mechanisms Underlying Excitability Regulation of Motoneuron Types in ALS
Funded at Wright State University · NIH-11261087 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at why motor nerve cells in people with ALS swing between being too active and too quiet, and how those swings may lead to cell damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wright State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dayton, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2015 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $522,385 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS091836-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11261087 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This grant does not appear to be enrolling patients, but its results would be most relevant to people diagnosed with ALS and related motor neuron conditions.
✕Less likely to help
People without ALS or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to benefit directly from this laboratory-focused research.
What this research studies
Researchers are examining how different types of motor neurons change their electrical activity during ALS and which ion channels control those changes. They will use laboratory models, including ALS mouse lines and cell-based experiments, to track when and how neurons become hyper- or hypo-excitable. The team will map the ionic mechanisms that cause neurons to flip between high and low activity and study how those fluctuations evolve over time. Results are intended to point to molecular targets that future therapies could use to stabilize neuron activity and help prevent neuron loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new drug targets to help stabilize motor neuron activity and slow disease progression in ALS.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal and cell studies of motor neuron excitability have clarified disease mechanisms and suggested targets but have not yet yielded broadly effective ALS therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Wright State University
Dayton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Elbasiouny, Sherif M — Wright State University
- Study coordinator: Elbasiouny, Sherif M
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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.