Ice Bucket Challenge Leads to ALS Gene Discovery

[applegrove]

Ice Bucket Challenge Leads to ALS Gene Discovery

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2016/07/27/ice-bucket-challenge-pays-off.html?via=desktop&source=copyurl

SNIP.............


The viral “Ice Bucket Challenge,” which encouraged millions of people to dump cold water over their heads nearly two years ago, actually paid off and led to an enormous research breakthrough for the neurological disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). According to the ALS Association, the $220 million raised worldwide funded the largest study of inherited ALS ever, and has identified a new gene, dubbed NEK1. The gene will become a target for gene therapy development. "Global collaboration among scientists... made possible by ALS Ice Bucket Challenge donations, led to this important discovery," said John Landers of the University of Massachusetts Medical School.


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[redstatebluegirl]

1. With all of the cuts to NIH and NSF grants it is no wonder it took this type of fundraising to make

a difference. I'm glad people found something they could get behind, but it doesn't replace NIH grants and NSF in finding cures to disease. Republicans are afraid of science, they hate smart people and they need to increase funding to scientists who are trying to cure these awful diseases.

Great job to the people who started this fund raiser and to those who sent them money.

[rocktivity]

2. More

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141532861


rocktivity

[Warpy]

3. I lost a cousin to non genetic ALS a few years ago

It is the shittiest way to go I know of because you're 100% aware and know exactly what's going on until the end. Her last message to me, a week before she died, was "I'm miserable."

Any advances they can make with this one are terrific, no matter how silly a stunt funds them.

[pinboy3niner]

5. In HS long ago Elisabeth Kübler-Ross was working with a classmate's mother with ALS

That's how I learned about the disease and how cruel a fate that is, where there's no way to go but worse.

Any advance here is worth the cost.

I'm sorry you lost your cousin, especially this terrible way.

[spanone]

4. K&R...

[malaise]

6. K & R for good news

Sad that our governments don't give a fugg

[KK9]

8. Great news!

My father died of ALS. And, my grad school advisor. It's a very cruel disease.