Alzheimer Newsletter #4 - Neurodegenerative diseases

Dear awardees,
As you surely know, the fight against neurodegenerative diseases is the first “Priority Axis” on which the FRM is positioning itself with the ambition of increasing the impact of its action. After a first call for projects targeting Alzheimer's disease in 2019, the FRM launched a second call for projects in 2020, this time focusing on neurodegenerative diseases.
Congratulations to the nine awardees who join our community!
Here is in this context the fourth newsletter of the priority axis "Neurodegenerative diseases" dedicated to the awardees of these calls. On the program, a presentation of the new awadees and their projects and a synthetic overview of clinical trials in the field of neurodegenerative diseases.
Good reading !

Nine promising new research projects: tour of France of the nine 2020 winners

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: the role of the SETX gene in a juvenile form
  
  Odil PORRUA FUERTE (Jacques Monod Institute, Paris)
  Stéphane NEDELEC (Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris)
  
  
  The SETX gene codes for senataxine, a protein necessary for the proper functioning of motor neurons. Mutations in this gene cause a form of juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This team proposes an approach combining biochemistry, genetics and complex motor neuron models to better study the role of the SETX gene and thus explore new therapeutic avenues.
• The molecular mechanisms of neuron degeneration in hereditary cerebellar ataxias
  
  Hélène PUCCIO (NeuroMyoGene Institute, Lyon)
  Bianca HABERMANN (Institute of Developmental Biology of Marseille)
  
  This study aims to decipher the molecular pathways common to hereditary cerebellar ataxias using the most innovative sequencing techniques, as well as bioinformatics techniques. This approach will make it possible to identify new therapeutic targets that will be validated in mice.
• Light to restore rhythm to the brain in Alzheimer's disease
  Laurent GIVALOIS (Molecular Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Dementia, Montpellier)
  Cyril GOUDET (Institute of Functional Genomics, Montpellier)
  
  In patients with Alzheimer's disease, brain oscillations are decreased. This project aims to restore normal neuronal activity through photopharmacology, ie the regulation of a molecule by a light stimulus. This technique makes it possible to activate and inactivate a molecule responsible for neuronal rhythm at a given frequency.
• Search for new mutated genes at the origin of Parkinson's disease
  
  Suzanne Lesage (Brain and Spinal Cord Institute, Paris)
  Bassem HASSAN (Brain and Spinal Cord Institute, Paris)
  
  This project aims to identify mutated genes in many forms of Parkinson's disease that are currently unexplained. The teams involved will use state-of-the-art sequencing techniques and animal models to confirm the genes involved among 130 candidate genes.
• Artificial protein aggregates to elucidate the origin of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  
  Zoher GUEROUI (Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris)
  Delphine BOHL (Brain and Spinal Cord Institute, Paris)
  Dominique WEIL (Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Paris)
  
  In most forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, TDP-43 protein aggregates are found in motor neurons. However, their role remains poorly understood. These teams aim to artificially reproduce these aggregates in human motor neurons cultured in vitro in order to study their toxicity.
  
  
• Loss of nerve cell energy: a starting point for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  
  Véronique PAQUIS FLUCKINGER (Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice)
  Timothy WAI (Pasteur Institute, Paris)
  
  
  This project aims to understand the molecular mechanisms leading to mitochondrial dysfunctions in patients carrying the CHCHD10 mutation. The teams will work simultaneously on mouse models and motor neurons from cultured patients.
• The contribution of cell aging in Alzheimer's disease
  
  Bill KEYES (Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Illkirch)
  Yann HERAULT (Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Illkirch)
  
  Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Illkirch
  
  The aim of this work is to study the impact of senescent cells in Alzheimer's disease. The researchers will use a mouse model to monitor the areas where senescence appears and the cell types concerned.
• Neurodegenerative diseases: a problem of rails and bad traffic inside neurons?
  
  Carsten JANKE (Curie Institute, Orsay)
  Filippo DEL BENE (Vision Institute, Paris)
  Wolfgang KEIL (Curie Institute, Paris)
  
  
  How does disruption of microtubule regulation lead to neuronal neurodegeneration? This is the question these researchers are trying to answer, using four different models. Thus, this project could identify early onset diagnostic markers for neurodegenerative diseases.
• Reprogram immune cells to fight amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  
  Cédric RAOUL (Institute of Neurosciences of Montpellier)
  Naomi TAYLOR (Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier)
  Hélène BLASCO (Imagery and Brain, Tours)
  
  These teams will study alterations in the metabolism of regulatory T lymphocytes in mice and patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, with the aim of then testing an innovative cellular immunotherapy based on reprogrammed regulatory T lymphocytes.
  
  Photo : contenu gratuit Canva