It began, as scientific investigations often do, with a tragedy to someone close. Isaac Chiu, PhD, an undergraduate student in biochemistry at Harvard University, learned that a family friend had developed Lou Gehrig’s disease (also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS), and was quickly and mysteriously losing muscle strength and control. Devastated, Chiu wanted to know more.

Articles in medical journals gave him the basics: Some 10 percent of ALS cases are inherited; for the rest, the insult that unleashes the disease is unknown. There is no cure, only a handful of supportive treatments.… Read Full Article »