Marina Avetisyan, MD, PhD

2023 CLINICAL RESEARCH TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP IN ALS

Title/Institution: Clinical Fellow in Medicine, Mass General Brigham

Project Title: “Uncovering mechanisms of cytoplasmic double-stranded RNA (cdsRNA)-mediated neurodegeneration in FTD/ALS using systems pharmacology”

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and FTD (frontotemporal dementia) are both neurodegenerative diseases that have similar symptoms, pathology, and genetics, and there are currently no effective treatments for either disease. 

Dr. Avetisyan’s research focuses on unraveling the role of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and FTD. Dr. Avetisyan’s research may help us understand the mechanisms that cause neurons to die in FTD and ALS, and may lead to treatments for these diseases, including JAK (Janus kinase) inhibitors, which are already used to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.