Nervous System and Brain Disorders

Prof. Eran Perlson

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal adult-onset disease, characterized by neuronal death and degeneration. No effective treatment exists for ALS Prof Perlson is taking a fresh approach to this challenge using advanced microscopy, genetic engineering and a novel NMJ-on-a-Chip platform that mimics the human motor unit This novel platform was developed first in the world by Prof. Perlson’s team, and enables growth of patients’ neurons and muscle on a silicon chip.

Prof. Perlson, PhD, at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology and Sagol School of Neuroscience, is a leader in the research of nerve degeneration and regeneration. He completed a Ph.D. at the Weizmann Institute of Science in molecular and cellular neurobiology. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Pennsylvania Medical School, he focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying axon degeneration in ALS. His scientific work has earned him a large number of distinguished grants, awards and honors, and he is the author of numerous publications in high profile journals and invited speaker to leading international meetings.

http://www3.tau.ac.il/medicine/perlson/

This unique platform opens new possibilities for experimental analyses of neuron degeneration and regeneration process, and provides a tool for personalized medicine. The team’s main goal is to elucidate the critical events leading to neuron damage that can be targeted and prevented. By preventing nerve degeneration and activating its regeneration, they will be able to find effective treatment to neurodegenerative disease such as ALS or spinal cord injuries.