AOU Federico II di Napoli

The ALS Center at Federico II University Hospital in Naples operates within the Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, managing over 2,000 patients with neuromuscular diseases. It is one of the largest referral centers in southern Italy and a recognized member of the European Reference Network (ERN) for neuromuscular disorders. The center provides multidisciplinary care for over 200 ALS patients, welcoming around 60 new cases annually, including referrals for diagnostic confirmation.

Specializing in advanced diagnostic evaluation, the center integrates neurophysiological techniques with neuroimaging to assess cortical excitability, using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a core tool. Research efforts focus on understanding cortical dysfunction, neurodegenerative mechanisms, and identifying prognostic biomarkers. A key area of investigation is the use of confocal skin biopsy analysis to discover in vivo biomarkers for improving early diagnosis and disease monitoring.

The center actively collaborates with the ALS Patients’ Association and the Hospital Clinical Investigation Center for clinical trials. Its research is deeply connected with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Naples Federico II and the CEINGE Institute of Molecular Medicine, fostering a strong link between clinical practice and translational research to advance both patient care and scientific knowledge of ALS.