ALS Research

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS Research)

The Miller Lab seeks to understand the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in ALS and to develop new, innovative therapies for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

New methodologies to study neurodegeneration

Our team, in collaboration with Dr. Robi Mitra and Dr. Joseph Dougherty of the Department of Genetics at Washington University, recently developed a new tool called “AAV calling cards” for measuring enhancer and transcription factor (TF)-mediated regulation in the mouse brain (Cammack et al. 2020). This molecular technique offers novel advantages over other methodologies, including the ability to probe epigenetic profiles in specific, targeted cellular populations and to record and integrate transient TF binding events over time. AAV calling cards will now enable unique studies in the areas of neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration.

Antisense oligonucleotides for ALS

A main focus of the Miller Lab has been the development of RNA-targeted therapeutics for ALS using antisense oligonucleotides. Recent work (McCampbell et al. 2018) shows impressive extension of survival in SOD1 ALS animal models and reversal of some components of muscle function. We continue to expand the number of targets for therapeutics and welcome new ideas.

MicroRNAs as drivers and biomarkers of disease

microRNA (or miRNA) are small RNA that regulate other RNA. As some of the master regulators of multiple RNAs, we consider miRNA both an interesting way to understand disease pathogenesis as well as a way to develop novel targets for therapy. We identified motor neuron specific miRNA (Hoye et al. 2017) and found that one of these miRNA. miR-218, is release from motor neurons and taken up by astrocytes causing damage to astrocytes and likely further damage to motor neurons (Hoye et al. 2018). We are studying how miRNA are taken up by cells, how other motor neuron specific miRNA participate in disease pathogenesis and how to best to inhibit this class of RNA.

Understanding mutant SOD1 protein kinetics

Understanding protein turn over is likely to inform both on the biology of misfolded proteins and as a readout for RNA-targeted therapeutics. Using C-13 leucine labeling, we have established a method to measure SOD1 protein kinetics in humans and animal models and have shown that this is may be an excellent way to track the effect of antisense oligonucleotides (Crisp et al. 2015Self et al. 2018). The most interesting work on SOD1 protein kinetics is yet to come examining the protein in people with ALS. We are studying other disease-related protein turn over and developing new methods to do so.

The ALS Center for patient care

Washington University ALS Center

Washington University ALS Center

ALS Patient Care & Clinical Trials

Our St. Louis ALS team, consisting of physicians, clinicians, researchers and experts, collaborates to evaluate patient needs, create individualized clinical care plans, and implement recommended clinical services. Patients at our Center have access to leading-edge clinical trials which focus on personalized medicine to improve the understanding, treatment, and prevention of ALS.

Learn more at the ALS Center Website