Open House Highlights Promising ALS Research at Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center

On Friday, May 30, 2025, ALS United Mid-Atlantic participated in a tour of the ALS research labs at Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center. The tour was organized by Daniela Zarnescu, PhD, to showcase the lab’s progress in understanding ALS at all levels of disease progression.

During the tour, researchers highlighted how studies with fruit flies can serve as a model for the progression of ALS and FTD.

Studies that were showcased included:

• A “fly-to-human” approach to study neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), FrontoTemporal Dementia (FTD), and related brain disorders
• Observing brain cells in flies and how flies with ALS-FTD behave differently from control flies
• Examining how ALS Drosophilia (with TDP-43 pathology) exhibits motor loss and reveals defects in neuronal protein expression in patient tissues
• Testing novel compounds in human cells with compounds identified in a fly screen
• Studying TDP-43 pathology in muscle structures and using genetic tools to rescue muscle deficits in flies

The scientists demonstrated how flies can be a good predictor to understand TDP-43 mechanisms that occur in human disease. This research can be translated beyond ALS as well, emphasizing the valuable collaboration between scientific disciplines.

 

The ALS research lab and clinic have grown significantly since Dr. Zachary Simmons first launched the ALS Center at Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center nearly 30 years ago. Dr. Zarnescu answered questions from the ALS United Mid-Atlantic team, including local patients who are engaged in ongoing research studies. The tour included researchers with decades of experiences and younger students who are adding their own valuable insights to advance the future of ALS research.

One week after the tour, members of the research lab joined the Hershey ALS United Walk to raise money and awareness for the ALS cause.