Talk title: "Decoding gene regulatory networks in ALS"

Prof Kirby’s research interests encompass the genetics of neurodegenerative diseases and how gene expression profiling (GEP) can be used to investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of neurodegeneration and identify diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. The value of genetic screening in all ALS patients has recently been demonstrated, and GEP of human biosamples, as well as animal and cellular models, has been used to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms of ALS, such as detecting the dysregulation of NRF2, a cell survival transcription factor, which is now a therapeutic target in ALS. More recently, GEP of patient’s blood samples have established the effect of low-dose interleukin-2 and demonstrated the personalized nature of the response.

Links

• Professor Janine Kirby | Medical School | The University of Sheffield