ALS Therapy Development Institute
“Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease and outside the US as Motor Neuron Disease (MND) or Charcot’s Disease, is a progressive neuro-degenerative disease that attacks motor neurons in the brain (upper motor neurons) and spinal cord (lower motor neurons) and affects muscle function.
ALS TDI is the world’s first non-profit biotechnology company and accelerated research on the disease by hiring scientists to develop treatments outside of academia and for-profit corporations. They were the first to publish research on the safety of using stem cells in ALS patients.
They are the only non-profit research Foundation with their own laboratory and research programme dedicated entirely to defeating ALS. To increase throughput, ALS TDI organises, and has collaborated with dozens of academic labs and leading biotechs. At ALS TDI, they believe that ALS is a crisis and they are determined to provide the appropriate response it deserves. Every decision they make is made with today’s ALS patient in mind.
Their mission is to develop effective therapeutics that stop ALS as soon as possible. Focused on meeting this urgent unmet medical need, they execute a robust discovery programme, as well as a multi-pronged approach to validate potential therapeutics; incl. small molecules, protein biologics, gene therapies and cell-based constructs. The Institute’s unique, industrial-scale platform allows for the development and testing of dozens of potential therapeutics each year.
How You Can be Involved
The ALS TDI Newsletter is an occasional publication which highlights research advancements, scientific collaborations and fundraising events in support of ALS TDI. ALS TDI publishes a Monthly E-Update.
Informal, introductory webinars about ALS research and ALS TDI’s progress. They believe you should expect to walk away knowing the following: 1. Who they are? 2. What’s being tested in the lab today? and 3. High-level knowledge of their approach to responding to the ALS crisis
Webinars
The webinar consists of both an audio and online portion with about a dozen slides. The webinar will last on average 30 minutes and the presenters will be available for up to an hour afterwards for questions. Questions can be entered online or over the phone. You will be provided the dial-in and log-on information after you register. We ask that you register at least two hours before a scheduled webinar. You need not download any software to participate.
ALS TDI is committed to creating and maintaining the most direct and open lines of communication with the ALS community. In support of this effort, the Institute will be publishing a regular podcast on its website as well as via publishing mechanisms on iTunes. These podcasts are audio based and last between 7-10 minutes in length, each focusing on a limited topic or number of topics.
ALS Research 101 is a 2 hour seminar and discussion led by Dr. Steven Perrin, the CEO & Chief Scientific Officer at ALS TDI. Held at various locations around the US, ALS Research 101 is designed to provide ALS patients, caregivers and their families with:
* Insight into the biology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
* Enhanced skills to partner with physicians in making well-informed treatment decisions.
* Opportunity to connect with other patients and families in the ALS community, as well as with staff members who are passionately working every day to find a treatment for ALS.
* Awareness of the ALS research performed to date and insight on the new research techniques being applied today and the resources available to patients.
* Introduction to various web-based information resources.
* In addition, Dr. Perrin will update his presentation between session to include the latest information on therapeutic topics of interest or other questions sent by those that register in advance.
All ALS TDI programmes are free and open to the public. This programme was redesigned for 2010 to include the latest topics of interest and importance to patients today. They begin May 2, 2010 commencing 3pm – 5pm at the Sheraton Gateway Suites Chicago O’Hare 6501 N. Mannheim Road Chicago, IL.”
