ALS blood biomarker panel identified

Researchers from the University of Miami, led by Michael Bell and Joanne Wuu, analyzed data from the NIH-funded Pre-fALS study to identify a panel of 19 blood proteins that can predict the onset of ALS symptoms in genetically at-risk individuals with an average error of about 18 months. The study, published in Nature Medicine, used proteomic analysis and machine learning on samples from 137 participants. The findings were validated using UK Biobank data. The drug Tofersen, approved for symptomatic ALS and developed by Biogen, is being evaluated in the ATLAS trial as a preventative therapy for pre-symptomatic ALS. The research was supported by the United States — National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).