The Ice Bucket Challenge of 2014 was more than a viral fad. It has helped contribute to an ALS breakthrough.
A new ALS gene has been identified, the ALS Association reported on Monday:
According to a paper published today in Nature Genetics, researchers part of Project MinE’s global gene sequencing effort, funded by The ALS Association through ALS Ice Bucket Challenge donations, have identified a new ALS gene, NEK1, which now ranks among the most common genes that contribute to the disease, providing scientists with another potential target for therapy development. ...
“The discovery of NEK1 highlights the value of ‘big data’ in ALS research,” said Lucie Bruijn, Ph.