Understanding how muscle signaling affects ALS progression
Official title: Sustained Smad signaling in ALS muscle promotes disease progression through a dysregulated miRNA transcriptome
Funded at Birmingham VA Medical Center · NIH-11003654 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how problems with communication between muscles and nerves might affect the progression of ALS, and it's for people with ALS to help find better ways to diagnose and monitor the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Birmingham VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006231-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11003654 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other neurodegenerative diseases or those without a diagnosis of ALS may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of muscle signaling in the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a severe neurodegenerative disease. It aims to uncover how disruptions in communication between muscle fibers and motor neurons contribute to disease onset and progression. By analyzing skeletal muscle from ALS patients, the study seeks to identify molecular biomarkers that could help in diagnosing and monitoring the disease. The research also focuses on the immune response in the neuromuscular system, which may play a critical role in ALS pathology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies for ALS patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding muscle involvement in ALS, but this specific approach to identifying biomarkers is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Birmingham VA Medical Center
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: King, Peter H — Birmingham VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: King, Peter H
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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.