Craig Bennett, PhD
I am broadly interested in determining the molecular basis of motor neuron disease (MND). In collaboration, I have produced mouse, fly, and cell models for the study of inherited nervous system disorders. But in most cases, the genetic forms of these diseases are rare. Specifically, for the most common form of MND, ALS, there is no family history or gene mutation in greater than 90% of cases. For these sporadic ALS cases, I believe that several cumulative lesions occur throughout a patient’s life that combine to ultimately cross a disease-onset threshold. One such contributing factor may be the environmental toxin, L-BMAA, for which I also have an ongoing interest.