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ALS Research Umeå

Research network The ALS Research Center at Umeå University and University Hospital of Northern Sweden, Region Västerbotten, was established in 1993 and the associated researchers are in close collaboration with the clinical ALS team responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) . The research on ALS includes basic laboratory research and clinical studies, as well as pharmaceutical studies conducted in collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry.

Who are we?

The ALS Research Network is primarily here for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their next of kin, and we hope that our work will lay the groundwork for new, effective treatments to slow ALS disease progression. We believe that the key to progress is close collaboration spanning diverse fields of expertise.

Our research depends on support from, and collaboration with, members and institutions across society, including patients and their close ones, universities, health care providers, patient organisations, pharmaceutical companies, and politicians – in Sweden, in the EU, and across continents.

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Research Groups

ALS Research Umeå
The ALS Research Center at Umeå University and University Hospital of Northern Sweden, Region Västerbotten, was established in 1993 and the...
Research area: Clinical medicine
Angelica Nordin Lab
I do research on the genetics behind amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). My main focus is on the expansion of a repetitive sequence (the...
Research area: Clinical medicine
Fatima Pedrosa Domellöf
The research group led by professor Fatima Pedrosa Domellöf has two main tracks: one being "The molecular portfolio of the extraocular muscles: key...
Karin Forsberg Lab
ALS Research
Research area: Neurosciences
Per Zetterström Lab
ALS Research
Research area: Clinical medicine
Peter Andersen Lab
We conduct clinical and pre-clinical research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Research area: Neurosciences
Stefan Marklund Lab
Since 1993 we have closely studied the biochemical properties of SOD1 and how it causes ALS. Our focus is on how mutations in SOD1 leads to...
Research area: Clinical medicine
Thomas Brännström Lab
Our research centers on the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Research area: Clinical medicine

About the tofersen study

Listen to the researchers and neurologists Peter Andersen and Karin Forsberg talk about the promising results shown in a Swedish ALS patient with a familial SOD1 mutation participating in the pharmaceutical company Biogen’s phase 3-study on the gene therapy drug tofersen.

The patient in question has left written consent to participation in this publication. The family has expressed a strong wish to have their privacy respected. Other family members have died in ALS (none participated in the study). Other patients, who participated in earlier tofersen studies and were given either a lower dose or placebo, have died. The decision to make this public was taken independently of the pharmaceutical company Biogen.

Read more about our research and current pharmaceutical trials here.

Here you can find all press images connected to ALS Research Umeå available through Mynewsdesk.

Potential conflicts of interest

Karin Forsberg is a specialist neurologist at the neurology clinic, University hospital of Northern Sweden, and researcher at the Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences unit, at the Medical Faculty at Umeå University. She is the main and co-investigator in pharmaceutical trials sponsored by Amylyx, Biogen, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, PTC-Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi and ITB-Med.

Peter Andersen is a Wallenberg Clinical Scholar, chief neurologist at the neurology clinic, University hospital of Northern Sweden, and professor at the Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences unit, at the Medical Faculty at Umeå University. He is the main investigator for the pharmaceutical trials VALOR and ATLAS sponsored by Biogen, and has since 2014 received fees from participation in advisory committees. The fees have been payed either to his employer Umeå University or him as a private citizen. He is also the main investigator for several other ALS pharmaceutical trial sponsored by competitors of Biogen. He is also a payed advisor to the European Medicines Agency, EMA.  

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News

Breakthrough for ALS research in Umeå – new gene therapy slows down disease progression
Published: 2024-04-26

Researchers at Umeå University report a breakthrough in the research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Two awards from the Börje Salming ALS Foundation
Published: 2023-12-12

Karin Forsberg and Per Zetterström receive funding at the first award from the Börje Salming ALS Foundation.

The extraocular muscles may provide possible key to defensive mechanisms against ALS
Published: 2023-06-19

A unique type of eye muscle fibers is resistant against ALS, and can compensate for other muscle fibers.

Simpler and reliable ALS diagnosis with blood tests
Published: 2022-01-28

Blood tests may enable more accurate diagnosis of ALS at an earlier stage of the disease, according to study.

ALS disease mechanism discovered
Published: 2018-09-04

The discovery can open up for novel pharmaceutical developments in the future.

Head of research

Peter Andersen
Professor, senior consultant (attending) physician
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Thomas Brännström
Professor, senior consultant (attending) physician
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Karin Forsberg
Associate professor, consultant (attending) physician, physician
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Stefan Marklund
Professor emeritus, professor
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Angelica Nordin
Physician
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Fatima Pedrosa-Domellöf
Professor, professor, senior consultant (attending) physician
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Per Zetterström
Assistant professor, resident physician
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Overview

Participating departments and units at Umeå University

Department of Clinical Sciences, Department of Medical and Translational Biology, Department of Medical Biosciences

Research area

Clinical medicine

External funding

Region Västerbotten, Hjärnfonden, Swedish Research Council, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation

External funding

Current Events

There are currently no upcoming events for this area. Do you want to see upcoming events for the entire university? Go to our calendar.

Neurologen och forskaren Karin Forsberg och överläkaren i neurologi och professorn Peter Andersen tittar igenom färska provsvar från ALS-patienten som deltagit i den aktuella genterapistudien.
Breakthrough for ALS research in Umeå

Researchers at Umeå University report a breakthrough in the research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The extraocular muscles may provide possible key to defensive mechanisms against ALS

A unique type of eye muscle fibers is resistant against ALS, and can compensate for other muscle fibers.

Simpler and reliable ALS diagnosis with blood tests

Blood tests may enable more accurate diagnosis of ALS at an earlier stage of the disease, according to study.

Latest update: 2024-09-05