Laser Focus

For many years now, part of the fight against ALS has been focused on finding reliable biomarkers. This has proven difficult as there is so much variability in progression and phenotype. However, what if you had something better than a biomarker? How about direct observation of the motor neurons and the neuromuscular junctions. This is a sales video of the type of device used (a confocal microendoscope). And here is a news video with the device being used in diagnosis of another condition.The ability to live-image, in-vivo, down to the individual cellular level is super cool and is nearly "Star Trek" in terms of nifty. Professor Richard Ribchester is the person leading the work. This tool may be enormously helpful in studying neurodegeneration and in gauging efficacy of any experimental drugs or treatments.