Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. Currently, there is no treatment to reverse damage to motor neurons or cure ALS. This disease is caused by motor neuron degeneration that results in dysfunction of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), a synaptic connection between the terminal end of a motor nerve and a muscle. 

In collaboration with Axion BioSystems, we have developed at NETRI microfluidic devices coupled with high-throughput compatible MultiElectrod Arrays (MEAs), allowing neurons and myocytes co-culture and their functional and phenotypical analysis.