Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disease where motor neurons necessary for muscle movements die off, leading to paralysis. Researchers developed a method to create motor neurons from ALS patients’ stem cells, allowing for drug testing tailored to individual patients. This technique produces mature motor neurons in just two weeks, similar to those in ALS patients. The lab model showed increased susceptibility to cell death, highlighting its potential for drug screening. By partnering with Nikon, researchers developed software to automate the analysis of neuron survival, providing a high-throughput method to identify potential drugs. This personalized approach aims to slow disease progression and improve ALS patient outcomes.
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Personalized stem cell model offers fast, individualized drug testing for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
