Advertisement

Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? It helped fund discovery of ALS-related gene

Two women get doused during the Ice Bucket Challenge at Boston's Copley Square to raise funds and awareness for ALS in August 2014.
(Elise Amendola / Associated Press)
Share

The ALS Assn. is crediting money raised through the Ice Bucket Challenge for the discovery of a gene’s connection to the progressive disease.

Those who accepted the challenge allowed buckets of ice water to be dumped on their heads to raise awareness and money for ALS.

The challenge became a viral sensation in 2014 and raised $115 million for the association. Figures from the ALS Assn. show $1 million of that helped fund a global effort to help find genetic drivers of the condition called Project MinE.

Advertisement

See the most-read stories in Science this hour »

The ALS Assn. says a paper published this week in the journal Nature Genetics reveals Project MinE researchers have identified the NEK1 gene’s connection to ALS. It says understanding the gene’s role will help in developing new target therapy for ALS.

ALSO

Are skin-cancer checks by doctors worth the trouble?

Scientists find microbiotic treasure hidden in the nose

New species of tiny endangered fish found only at Camp Pendleton

Advertisement
Advertisement