$125,000 awarded to Dr. Jasna Kriz at l’Université Laval.
Microglia are the primary immune cells of the brain, providing the first and main form of defense against toxic substances. Microglia are initially helpful, but in many neurodegenerative disorders, including ALS, chronic overactivation during progression causes them to change and become toxic. Scientists have tested therapeutics in human clinical trials that target microglia in a generalized manner to reduce inflammatory and immune responses in a non-specific way, however this approach has not been successful to date. In this project, Dr. Kriz will attempt to target specific activation within the microglia of people living with ALS.
Dr. Kriz’s recent research indicates that the activation of a protein called serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 3 (SRSF3) can cause microglia to transform from their healthy, helpful state into abnormal cells that promote inflammation. In her work, she will investigate the role of SRSF3 in mice microglia that have been genetically reprogrammed to have human ALS and are chronically activated. She also hopes that inhibiting SRSF3 will not only reduce the toxic activation of microglia in ALS, but also restore their normal supportive function.
If successful, Dr. Kriz suggests that this SRSF3 activation mechanism will be an exciting new target for therapies that may be able to prevent ALS or slow its progression by reverting over-activated microglia back to normal and restoring their healthy immune response.