Ammar Al-Chalabi

ammar.al-chalabi@kcl.ac.uk

ammaralchalabi

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Research Interests

Ammar Al-Chalabi is an NIHR Senior Investigator. His research focuses on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. His research team works on finding the causes of ALS, potential treatments, and what might influence the way the disease manifests and progresses, particularly where this involves genes, environmental exposures, or lifestyle, or involves changes in thinking and coping. He runs a large clinical research programme, and leads or co-leads multinational consortia, such as the JPND STRENGTH, BRAIN-MEND, and Project MinE initiatives. He is the recipient of several international awards including the Sheila Essey Award from the American Academy of Neurology, the Forbes Norris Award from the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations, and the AMG Healey Innovation Prize for ALS Research.

Most significant discovery

1. First linkage, GWAS and replication of ALS-FTD to chromosome 9 (C9orf72 locus).
2. Development of the multistep model of ALS, demonstrating ALS is a 6-step process and that genes
can account for up to 4 steps. Independently replicated in multiple populations.
3. Development of a clinical staging system for ALS, now part of international ALS clinical trials
guidelines, FDA guidelines, and used as an endpoint in academic and commercial trials.
4. First identification of retrovirus involvement in ALS, with antiretroviral therapies now in clinical trials.

Educational Interests

• Designed and set up MSc Clinical Neuroscience; previously Exam Board Chair and then Programme Board chair
• Published a laboratory manual on genetics of complex human diseases
• Published the Brain, A Beginner’s Guide

Top 4 Publications

1. Genome-wide association analyses identify new risk variants and the genetic architecture of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nat Genet. 2016;48(9):1043-8.

2. Chromosome 9p21 in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the UK and seven other countries: a genomewide association study. Lancet Neurol. 2010;9(10):986-94.

3. Lithium in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (LiCALS): a phase 3 multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Neurol. 2013;12(4):339-45. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70037-1

4. Analysis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as a multistep process: a population-based modelling study. Lancet Neurol. 2014;13(11):1108-13.

Methods / Expertise

ALS/MND
Genetic risk factors
Epidemiology
Statistics
Modelling