Grant: Project Grant

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two closely related neurodegenerative diseases, both of which currently lack cures or effective treatments. These conditions involve progressive communication failure between neurons in the brain, a crucial function for maintaining brain health. Understanding the reasons behind this breakdown in neuronal communication in ALS/FTD is vital for developing treatment strategies. The most common genetic cause of ALS/FTD is a mutation in a gene known as C9orf72. Our research has shown that this gene plays a key role in maintaining the brain's neuronal communication system. Our project focuses on understanding how C9orf72 does this. By unravelling how C9orf72 helps maintain brain communication, we hope to pinpoint new treatment targets to pave the way for potential therapies for these devastating diseases.