Arens Taga, MD

2025 Next Generation Research Grant in ALS

Investigating Axon Regeneration 

Institution: Johns Hopkins University

Project Summary:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the death of motor neurons resulting in progressive muscle weakness. The protein β1-importin (β1imp) helps transport molecules from a neuron’s nucleus to the rest of the cell and may promote regrowth after an axon has been damaged. In a certain genetic form of ALS, it’s been observed that β1imp doesn’t quite make it to its intended destination, known as mislocalization.   

Dr. Taga hypothesizes that β1imp promotes axon regrowth in normal spinal motor neurons and that this function is disrupted in people with C9orf72 ALS. He will investigate β1imp’s role in axon regeneration in healthy controls and neurons derived from ALS patients and try to determine a cause of β1imp mislocalization.  

β1imp may also play a role in other forms of ALS, other neurodegenerative diseases, and neuropathy. 

This research is funded by The ALS Association and American Brain Foundation, in collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology.