Research project

Projects and programmes financing plays a major role in AriSLA activity, which is organised from a general point of view in the following ways:

• drawing up and release of calls for proposal for basic, clinical and technological research
• scientific evaluation and screening of project proposals
• financing management and monitoring of financed research activities

Basic research
It is carried out to increase the understanding of  biologic mechanisms causing the selective degeneration of motor neurons. It has two main objectives:
- to find out specific markers for an early diagnosis of the disease
- to find out the targets for an effective treatment

During the last 10 years, the detection of a mutated gene related to a familial type of ALS (SOD1) has led to the development of experimental models, helping pre-clinic research progress. Still, the two main objectives above mentioned, have to be achieved. ALS is probably a multiple factor and multi cellular originated disease, that involves complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. An integrated approach between basic research staff, neurologists, clinics, geneticists, epidemiologists and patients is therefore needed, in order to improve data collection and information accessibility, to create centres for the collection of clinical information and for the development of databases and biologic banks.

Clinic research
Clinic research wants to develop effective treatments for ALS
At the moment, there are many problems associated to clinical trials:
• the lack of clear pathogenetic models and the problems in going from preclinical to human tests.
• the rarity of the disease and the need of multi-centric trials
• ALS heterogeneity, that forces to perform limited clinic studies (counting out patients suffering form atypical or incomplete form of ALS, young or old patients, patients suffering for more than 3 or 5 years, etc.)

• The lack of satisfactory clinical parameters, to be used as principal and subsidiary clinical end-points

• the shortage of clinical centres working on international trials and the lack of national coverage create unfair access to trial for patients living in peripheral areas of the Country.

• the little interest of pharmaceutical industry for ALS clinical trials because of its relative small number of patients.

• the difficult, for Italian researchers and scientist, to have access to international research funding (e.g. CE, NIH, ALSA, MNDA, etc.)

Technological research

Technological research deals with technologic tools improving the live of patients affecting by ALS.
There is the need to identify new technologies, to improve the existing ones and to encourage and enlarge the use of all tool, means and medical device to empower people affecting by ALS to live a better life and to improve their life expectancy:

• ICT support
• Brain Computer Interface / Direct Neural Interface
• Orthoses and supports (fast prototyping of bio mechanical devices, functional assessment of supports, material selection)
• Home telemonitoring of follow ups.

• Ambient assisted living and ergonomics
• Imaging for the assessment of treatments and rehabilitation on the nervous and cardiovascular system.