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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by the loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. This leads to increasing muscle weakness and, over time, affects mobility, speech, swallowing, and breathing. Despite major scientific advances, ALS remains one of the greatest challenges in modern neurology.
ALS is not a single disease entity. While a proportion of patients carry disease-causing genetic variants, most cases occur without an identifiable single cause. Current evidence suggests that ALS arises from a complex interplay of multiple factors, including genetic susceptibility, (premature) ageing processes, environmental influences, inflammatory mechanisms, and disturbances of cellular metabolism. This biological heterogeneity is reflected in the often highly variable clinical presentation and disease progression observed among patients.
The ALS Research Group at the Medical University of Vienna is dedicated to the study of ALS and other motor neuron diseases. In addition to ALS, our research encompasses spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetically determined motor neuron disorder for which several effective therapies have become available in recent years. Studying different motor neuron diseases allows us to identify shared disease mechanisms and translate insights across disorders. Our work ranges from the clinical characterisation of patients and the identification of biomarkers and genetic factors to the investigation of disease mechanisms and the conduct of clinical studies. Our goal is to improve our understanding of motor neuron diseases, predict disease progression more accurately, and develop novel therapeutic strategies.
A key component of our work is close international collaboration. As members of the European research networks ENCALS (European Network to Cure ALS) and TRICALS (Treatment Research Initiative to Cure ALS) in the field of ALS, as well as the SMArtCARE network in the field of SMA, we collaborate with leading research groups and clinical centres across Europe and beyond. These collaborations enable the rapid translation of scientific discoveries into clinical practice, facilitate the systematic study of disease progression, and accelerate the development of innovative therapies for patients.
Our mission is to improve the quality of life of people living with motor neuron diseases through excellent clinical care, innovative research, and international collaboration, while paving the way towards more effective and personalised treatment approaches.