A professor of entrepreneurship at several European business schools, Jean-Jacques Degroof has also mentored several young tech entrepreneurs. Jean-Jacques Degroof holds a PhD in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management, where he has served as a researcher and supported the Aging Brain Initiative, which recently published an article on new research regarding a gene related to familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). MIT biologists have identified a specific gene that they believe may prevent neurons from getting rid of waste, which may lead to some symptoms of ALS. Their research is based on a study of Caenorhabditis elegans, a microscopic worm that experiences buildup of unwanted substances inside its cells when the gene in question is mutated. This buildup occurs because mutation causes defects in lysosomes, structures that usually eliminate waste. Researchers believe that this function of this specific gene may cause as many as 40 percent of familial cases of ALS, as studies have shown that an enlarged DNA region in an area of this gene can lead to the disease. This research represents a step forward in the body of knowledge regarding the role of genetics in ALS. The success of future treatments may rely on research focused on drugs that can reduce genetic mutations while maintaining lysosome homeostasis.
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