Guidelines for preclinical animal research in ALS/MND: A consensus meeting

TLDR

Therapeutic development for ALS/MND relies heavily on animal models carrying human SOD mutations. The study aims to urgently establish SOPs for preclinical ALS/MND research to facilitate translational studies in other neurological diseases. The authors convened European ALS/MND groups in 2006 and 2009 to develop and refine guideline documents. The guidelines highlight that translating animal therapeutic successes to humans has been challenging and costly. The updated guidelines honor the memory of Sean F.

Abstract

The development of therapeutics for ALS/MND is largely based on work in experimental animals carrying human SOD mutations. However, translation of apparent therapeutic successes from in vivo to the human disease has proven difficult and a considerable amount of financial resources has been apparently wasted. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for preclinical animal research in ALS/MND are urgently required. Such SOPs will help to establish SOPs for translational research for other neurological diseases within the next few years. To identify the challenges and to improve the research methodology, the European ALS/MND group held a meeting in 2006 and published guidelines in 2007 (1). A second international conference to improve the guidelines was held in 2009. These second and improved guidelines are dedicated to the memory of Sean F. Scott.