$250,000  

Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Neurology’s Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS

In April 2024, we funded the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Neurology’s Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS. The gift will support the research project Exploring the Effect of Statins to Restore Stathmin-2 Function and Promote Motor Neuron Regeneration, which is conducted by Matthew Nolan PhD, an early career investigator mentored by Clotilde Lagier-Tourenne, MD, PhD, the Araminta Broch-Healey Endowed Chair in ALS. Dr. Lagier-Tourenne and her collaborators have discovered that normal stathmin-2 (STMN2) function is critical to motor neuron health and outgrowth. Thus, loss of STMN2 appears to contribute to the muscle weakness characterizing ALS. The team has found that in cell models, normalizing STMN2 using gene-targeted therapies helps to rescue motor neurons, which potentially could restore function in people with ALS.

“We at Hop On A Cure are thrilled to support this innovative and accessible potential new therapy,” said Hop On A Cure CEO Nic Shefrin. “We are also excited to champion promising young talent, like Dr. Nolan, who have committed themselves to ALS research.”

“The work that we do at the Healey & AMG Center would not be possible without the support of foundations like Hop On A Cure” said Dr. Lagier-Tourenne. “My team and I are grateful, and excited to be able to move forward with this research that will benefit the lives of people with ALS and their families.”

For more information about the Healey & AMG Center for ALS, click here.