Four research teams at Washington State University are working to advance research related to neurodegenerative diseases thanks to funding from the Steve Gleason Institute for Neuroscience. In addition to the four projects that received funding in 2022, the Institute has since awarded seed grants to two new teams that aim to further understanding of diseases like Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s disease. Over $160,000 in grant funding has been awarded to date.
Leading one of the two latest projects is Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine postdoctoral research associate Poppy Gardiner, whose research shifts the focus to caregivers who support those navigating neurodegenerative diseases.
Gardiner’s research will assess sleep disturbance and its relationship to caregiver burden, quality of life, health, and family function so practitioners can better address the challenges of neurodegenerative diseases. The mixed-method study will add to the limited field of research by working with both people with ALS (PALS) and caregivers for people with ALS (CALS).
“The single most important reason to support this area of research is that people’s quality of life can truly be changed for the better if we pay attention to their needs early, holistically, and with respect,” said Gardiner.
Additional grant recipients include Travis Denton, associate professor at the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Chris Davis, professor at the WSU Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology. Denton and Davis analyzed performance in subjects with expressive Alzheimer’s traits. Their investigation compared subjects with chronic sleep loss before and after introducing a potential drug that could minimize Alzheimer’s observable characteristics. Findings have led the team to explore further the ideal time to introduce the drug for positive therapeutic results and open the door to identifying new drug treatments for Alzheimer’s.
“These multidisciplinary teams drive the development of accessible and life-changing solutions that positively affect the day-to-day of all who are impacted by neurodegenerative disorders,” said Ken Isaacs, director of the Gleason Institute. “We look forward to continuing our support of this vital and necessary research.”
Closing the gap between diagnosis and treatment, Denton’s endocannabinoids assessment research, which received funding in 2022, is in search of biomarkers within the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that indicate ALS. Working alongside fellow researcher Greg Carter, a clinical professor at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and chief medical officer at Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center, the study’s goal will allow for earlier diagnosis and the start of more effective treatments to extend the overall lifespan of those with ALS.
Glen House, an Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine clinical faculty and rehabilitation physician, has a collaborative study with the WSU Spokane Research Service Center. This collaboration set out to develop new assistive technology that improves bowel function and predictability in those with neurodegenerative diseases. The developed novel device will facilitate functional independence for patients with neurodegenerative conditions but also help with acquired and traumatic conditions, such as spinal cord injury. The team’s next priority will be to refine the device for large-scale manufacturing and production, as there is no known device like it in the current market.
Evaluating adaptive technology efficacy, Anita Vasavada, associate professor at the WSU Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, highlighted her team’s interdisciplinary background. Together, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine students, Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center clinicians, and WSU engineers work toward improving assistive technologies such as head-controlled wheelchairs by assessing neck strength. Vasavada noted the limited research on quantifying neck strength in people with ALS. She believes this is the first study to objectively measure the force of neck strength in pounds or newtons, whereas previous studies have used the subjective Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. Reaching a milestone and greater impact, team members presented their research at the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2024.
