ITERALS v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Biomarkers for individualized treatment response in ALS
IRAS ID
324873
Contact name
Alexander G Thompson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Research Governance, Ethics and Assurance
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as motor neuron disease, MND) is a disease of the nervous system that causes worsening weakness leading to death. Most people with ALS will die within 3 years of first developing symptoms, but how long people with ALS live and how the disease affects people varies enormously. Information from genetic studies also indicates that there are multiple different problems in nervous system cells that can lead to ALS, meaning that a single approach to treatment might not be appropriate for everyone with the disease.
This study will use measurement of substances in bodily fluids of people with ALS combined with advanced methods to look at brain structure (using MRI scans) and brain activity (using MRI scans and measurement of magnetic fields produced by the brain using magnetoencephalography, MEG). Using these tools we will increase understanding of the relationship between the different changes in nervous system cells, nervous system structure and function, genetic factors and how these together influence the ways in which ALS manifests in an individual. The long term aims are to identify if there are groups of people with ALS in whom targeting specific abnormalities in nervous system cells might provide benefit – moving towards personalised treatment – and develop ways of identifying those people. The study will also contribute to developing new tests to help diagnosing the disease and predict how the disease will affect an individual.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
24/WA/0185
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jul 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion