As a Postdoctoral Fellow, McCloskey is part of a team developing gene therapeutics to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neuromuscular disease. In order to combat challenges in drug development, the researchers are creating a high throughput, three-dimensional (3D) model of the key functional unit impacted by ALS, namely, the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Using a human stem cell-derived model with contractile capabilities, they can directly evaluate how gene therapies that target disease-causing mutations in motor neurons impact skeletal muscle function. The ultimate goal is to develop therapies that reverse muscle weakness and prolong patient lives.