$300,000 awarded to Dr. Richard Robitaille, Université de Montréal, in collaboration with Dr. Sandrine Da Cruz, KU Leuven (Belgium), and Dr. Danielle Arbour, Université de Montréal.
The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) acts as the connection point between motor neurons and muscle fibers, allowing signals from the brain to reach muscles. In ALS, researchers believe that the early disconnection of motor neurons from muscles at the NMJ is a crucial event. Despite the significance of NMJs, our understanding of the changes occurring in ALS remains limited.
To address this gap in understanding, Dr. Robitaille and team will use advanced functional and molecular techniques to unravel the intricacies of NMJ changes during the disease. First, they plan to identify the molecular signatures of vulnerability and resistance across various NMJ states – whether intact or damaged. Second, they will explore changes in the different types of fat, or lipid, molecules present to investigate whether NMJs could serve as a potential source of biomarkers for ALS. Finally, they will use ALS models developed from human cells to study mechanisms underlying NMJ maintenance and loss in ALS.
Overall, this project aims to better understand the complex organization of NMJs in ALS by investigating the link between their state of innervation and their functional, molecular, and chemical properties. Through a comprehensive study of NMJs, Dr. Robitaille and team hope to illuminate the complexities of ALS progression and, in turn, pave the way for innovative strategies to diagnose and treat the disease.