Department  of  Neurobiology  and  Anatomy

Microsoft Word - Hsp70 Blazeman Sept 2016.doc                  Department  of  Neurobiology  and  Anatomy                   September  1,  2016     Dear  Mary  Ann,  Bob,  and  all  Blazeman  Warriors:     As  you  are  aware,  our  lab  at  Wake  Forest  has  determined  that  injections  of  a  particular  type  of   protein   called   heat   shock   protein   (Hsp)   70  may   benefit   ALS   s. [...]     However,   with   support   from   the   Blazeman   Foundation   for   the   past   several   years,   we   have   developed   a   way   to   reliably   and   reproducibly   produce   the   protein. [...]    In   addition,   our   results   with   activity   assays   indicate   that   our   in   house   protein’s   activity   is   30%   greater   than   commercially   available  protein,  or  protein  we  made   initially  before  making   final   modifications  to  the  production  protocol. [...]     Knowing   which   patients   have   this   genetic   difference   will   allow   physicians   to   identify   patients   for   whom   IL- ‐6   blocking- ‐therapies   will   be  most   effective. [...]     The   project   includes   an   MD/PhD   Student   who   is   well   on   her   way   to   becoming   a   future   ALS   investigator.