About this Research Topic
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a common motor neuron disease of adulthood characterized by progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons. Patients with ALS die from progressive paralysis of the respiratory muscles within a few years of disease onset, but there are currently no therapies that effectively affect disease progression. Candidate drugs developed to treat ALS are largely based on studies in ALS gene-transgenic mice, but virtually all of these drugs have proven ineffective. Current treatment options are limited to symptom management and respiratory support with approved, widely available drugs. The treatment of ALS faces major challenges, but to date there are no truly effective strategies and no effective drug discovery.
Translational research bridges the gap between basic research and clinical application by 'translating' scientific knowledge into practice, and is therefore essential for drug discovery and treatment ALS.
This Research Topic aims to collect a series of experimental studies on the role of molecular, cellular and systems biology factors such as neurotransmitters, synaptic plasticity, neurocytotoxicity, glial cells and animal models in the disease, focusing on their potential applications for clinical use and treatment. High level Reviews on the mechanisms of integrative therapies for the diseases are of great interest. We welcome Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Reviews, Mini-Reviews and Opinions on the following topics:
- Translational research in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;
- Therapeutic approaches to improve symptoms and delay progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;
- Mechanism of efficacy of biological agents, chemical drugs, physical therapy, stem cell therapy and natural products based on molecular biology, cellular, neurocytotoxic, glial cell and gene-based animal models;
- Translational research in cellular and animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;
- Evidence-based pattern syndrome: integrative therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;
- Pharmacogenomic evaluation of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis;
- Network pharmacology of therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and modulation at the molecular level.
Translational research bridges the gap between basic research and clinical application by 'translating' scientific knowledge into practice, and is therefore essential for drug discovery and treatment ALS.
This Research Topic aims to collect a series of experimental studies on the role of molecular, cellular and systems biology factors such as neurotransmitters, synaptic plasticity, neurocytotoxicity, glial cells and animal models in the disease, focusing on their potential applications for clinical use and treatment. High level Reviews on the mechanisms of integrative therapies for the diseases are of great interest. We welcome Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Reviews, Mini-Reviews and Opinions on the following topics:
- Translational research in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;
- Therapeutic approaches to improve symptoms and delay progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;
- Mechanism of efficacy of biological agents, chemical drugs, physical therapy, stem cell therapy and natural products based on molecular biology, cellular, neurocytotoxic, glial cell and gene-based animal models;
- Translational research in cellular and animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;
- Evidence-based pattern syndrome: integrative therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;
- Pharmacogenomic evaluation of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis;
- Network pharmacology of therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and modulation at the molecular level.
Keywords: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), translational research, therapeutic approach, pharmacogenomic evaluation, integrative therapies, gene-based animal model
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
