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Research papers often contain very complex scientific concepts and technical terminology. Researchers at SITraN have developed a "Hot off the press" resource of research summaries that are written in layman’s terms.
These lay summaries aim to provide an overview of some of the biggest publications in an easy to understand way, using simple language and removing the scientific jargon.
Below are the lay summaries that have been written by the SITraN researchers, they are organised by publication date.
The role of physical exercise in the development of ALS for people with certain other risk factors
The role of physical exercise in the development of ALS for people with certain other risk factors
Lay summary author: Selina Beal, PhD student, the University of Sheffield. November 2021.
Type of study: Clinical research study
Original paper: Physical exercise is a risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Convergent evidence from Mendelian randomisation, transcriptomics and risk genotypes DOI: /10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103397
Published: 26 May 2021
Novel drug shows a reduction in CNS inflammation and improvement of disease symptoms in a mouse model of ALS
Novel drug shows a reduction in CNS inflammation and improvement of disease symptoms in a mouse model of ALS
Lay summary author: Amy Keerie, PhD student, the University of Sheffield. November 2021.
Type of study: Laborartory study
Original paper: A novel anti-inflammatory D-Peptide inhibits disease phenotype progression in an ALS mouse model. Post et al. 2021. Molecules. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26061590
Published: 13 March 2021
The nutritional care of people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); a dietician’s view
The nutritional care of people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); a dietician’s view
Lay summary author: Sarah Roscoe, PhD student, the University of Sheffield. October 2021.
Type of study: Survey
Original paper: The nutritional care of people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); a dietician’s view. DOI: 10.1111/jhn.12900.
Published: 31 March 2021
A prolonged study following ALS patients found circulating biomarkers in the blood that can define disease prognosis and progression in ALS patients
A prolonged study following ALS patients found circulating biomarkers in the blood that can define disease prognosis and progression in ALS patients
Lay summary author: Anushka Bhargava, PhD student, the University of Sheffield. April 2021.
Type of study: Clinical research trial
Original paper: A longitudinal study defined circulating microRNAs as reliable biomarkers for disease prognosis and progression in ALS human patients. Cell Death Discov. 7, 4 (2021). DOI: s41420-020-00397-6
Published: 11 January 2021
The gut-brain axis filling in the blanks
The gut-brain axis filling in the blanks
Lay summary author: Mara Luciana Floare, PhD student, the University of Sheffield. April 2021.
Type of study: Laboratory study
Original paper: Potential roles of gut microbiome and metabolites in modulating ALS in mice. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1443-5
Published: 22 July 2019
ALS skin fibroblasts reveal oxidative stress and ERK1-2-mediated cytoplasmic localization of TDP-43
ALS skin fibroblasts reveal oxidative stress and ERK1-2-mediated cytoplasmic localization of TDP-43
Lay summary author: Mara Floare, PhD student, the University of Sheffield. February 2021.
Original paper: ALS skin fibroblasts reveal oxidative stress and ERK1/2-mediated cytoplasmic localization of TDP-43. DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109591
Published: 29 February 2020
Improving clinical trial outcomes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Improving clinical trial outcomes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Lay summary author: Jonathan George, PhD student, the University of Sheffield. February 2021.
Original paper: Improving clinical trial outcomes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Lessons learnt from a new C9orf72 mouse model of ALS*
Lessons learnt from a new C9orf72 mouse model of ALS*
Lay summary author: Amy Keerie PhD student, the University of Sheffield. February 2021.
Type of study: Laboratory study
Original paper: Lessons learnt from a new C9orf72 mouse model of ALS Survival and Motor Phenotypes in FVB C9-500 ALS/FTD BAC Transgenic Mice Reproduced by Multiple Labs. Nguyen et al. 2020. DOI: j.neuron.2020.09.009 Liu et al. 2016. DOI: j.neuron.2016.04.005 Mordes et al. 2020. DOI: j.neuron.2020.08.009
Published: 25 November 2020
SOD1 Suppression with Adeno-Associated Virus and MicroRNA in Familial ALS
SOD1 Suppression with Adeno-Associated Virus and MicroRNA in Familial ALS
Lay summary author: Ben Hall, PhD student, the University of Sheffield. February 2021
Type of study:
Original paper: SOD1 Suppression with Adeno-Associated Virus and MicroRNA in Familial ALS. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2005056
Published: 9 July 2020
CYLD is a causative gene for frontotemporal dementia-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
CYLD is a causative gene for frontotemporal dementia-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Lay summary author: Ben Hall, PhD student, the University of Sheffield. February 2021
Type of study:
Original paper: CYLD is a causative gene for frontotemporal dementia-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa039
Published: 1 March 2020
Results from Sodium Phenylbutyrate-Taurursodiol for ALS*
Results from Sodium Phenylbutyrate-Taurursodiol for ALS*
Lay summary author: Ben Hall, PhD student, the University of Sheffield. November 2020
Type of study: Clinical research trial
Original paper: Trial of Sodium Phenylbutyrate–Taurursodiol for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1916945
Published: 3 September 2020
Results from a large-scale analysis study linking weight loss to ALS genetics
Results from a large-scale analysis study linking weight loss to ALS genetics
Lay summary author: Sarah Roscoe, PhD student, the University of Sheffield. November 2020
Type of study: Statistical analysis of results from multiple clinical studies
Original paper: Genome-wide Meta-analysis Finds the ACSL5-ZDHHC6 Locus is Associated with ALS and Links Weight Loss to the Disease Genetics, (Iacoangeli et al., October 2020, Cell Reports, Vol 33, Issue 4). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108323
Published: 27 October 2020
Results from a clinical trial looking at using artificially engineered RNA (single stranded DNA) to reduce the levels of a mutant protein involved in some cases of MND
Results from a clinical trial looking at using artificially engineered RNA (single stranded DNA) to reduce the levels of a mutant protein involved in some cases of MND
Lay summary author: Jessica Allsop, Research Assistant, the University of Sheffield. August 2020
Type of study: Clinical research study
Original paper: Phase 1-2 Trial of Antisense Oligonucleotide Tofersen for SOD1 ALS (Miller et al., July 2020, The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol 383, No. 2). DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2003715
Published: 9 July 2020
Results from scientific research looking at injecting an altered virus into an MND mouse model to target a and reduce the levels of a specific mutated gene in MND
Results from scientific research looking at injecting an altered virus into an MND mouse model to target a and reduce the levels of a specific mutated gene in MND
Lay summary author: Jessica Allsop, Research Assistant, the University of Sheffield. July 2020
Type of study: Laboratory study
Original paper: Intralingual and Intrapleural AAV Gene Therapy Prolongs Survival in a SOD1 ALS Mouse Model (Keeler et al., December 2019, Molecular Therapy: Methods a Clinical Development, Volume 17) DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2019.12.007
Published: 23 December 2019
Reduced C9orf72 function exacerbates toxicity
Reduced C9orf72 function exacerbates toxicity
Lay summary author: Ben Hall, PhD student, the University of Sheffield. June 2020
Type of study: Laboratory study
Original paper: Reduced C9ORF72 function exacerbates gain of toxicity from ALS/FTD-causing repeat expansion in C9orf72 (Zhu et al., April 2020, Nature Neuroscience, Issue 23) DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-0619-5
Published: 13 April 2020
Results from scientific research looking into using a naturally occurring compound to combat the effects of hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) in a mouse model of MND
Results from scientific research looking into using a naturally occurring compound to combat the effects of hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) in a mouse model of MND
Lay summary author: Jessica Allsop, Research Assistant, the University of Sheffield. June 2020
Type of study: Laboratory study
Original paper: 6-Deoxyjacareubin, a natural compound preventing hypoxia-induced cell death, ameliorates neurodegeneration in a mouse model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Hoshino, T. et al., March 2020, Neuroscience Research). DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2020.02.011
Published: 4 March 2020
Results from scientific research looking into STMN2 – a potential novel biomarker and drug target for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Results from scientific research looking into STMN2 – a potential novel biomarker and drug target for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Lay summary author: Anushka Bhargava,PhD student, the University of Sheffield. February 2022
Type of study: Laboratory study
Original paper: ALS-implicated protein TDP-43 sustains levels of STMN2, a mediator of motor neuron growth and repair. DOI: 10.1038/s41593-018-0300-4
Published: 11 January 2019
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