Spring 2026 Grantee Highlight:
Aaron D. Gitler

Aaron D. Gitler, PhD

Professor of Genetics, Stanford School of Medicine

ALS gradually destroys the motor neurons that control movement, speech, and breathing, leading to progressive disability. Yet one of the disease’s greatest mysteries is why some motor neurons in the spinal cord succumb while others remain resilient.

Building on single-cell maps of mouse and human spinal cords, Aaron Gitler and his team have identified early disease-linked molecular states that arise in the most susceptible neurons. The researchers will use pooled genetic screens in living mouse models and advanced single-cell analyses to identify the genes and regulatory programs that push neurons toward degeneration or help protect them from it.

The team will then test whether selected transcription factors can shift vulnerable motor neurons into more resilient states, preserving their connections to muscle and supporting motor function. By uncovering the mechanisms that determine neuronal vulnerability and resilience, this effort aims to solve a defining mystery of ALS and lay the foundation for new therapeutic strategies. The findings may also provide insights into Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Learn more about the Gitler Lab: https://gitlerlab.org/