Research We Fund
Your generous support enables ALS United Mid-Atlantic to fund millions of dollars in research locally and in locations across the globe. We fund projects across the research pipeline, from basic research through clinical trials, and our support has led to several potential treatments currently in clinical trials.
Thanks to your donations and advocacy, ALS United Mid-Atlantic is now able to lead a bold research agenda that includes significant investments in promising trials. These advances were highlighted during the 2024 Help and Hope Symposium. Videos from this event are available at www.youtube.com/alsmidatlantic.
In the summer of 2024, ALS United Mid-Atlantic Board approved funding for these projects:
- ALS-TDI
o Purchase a Biotek Biospa Automated Incubator to run significantly more cell-based assays in iPS cell motor neurons. - Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center
o Evaluate the effects of environmental toxins linked to ALS on neuronal homeostasis - Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center
o Routine Evaluation of Neurofilament L Levels in Clinical Care of ALS Patients
o Development of Novel Cell-Based Therapy for ALS/FTD - Temple University
o Enlarge the number of studies to include transcriptome and expression of inflammatory proteins, as well as epigenetic changes to DNA. - Pennsylvania Hospital
o Collect biosamples for use in longitudinal studies
Your donations and advocacy make these programs possible. Learn more about ongoing investments in ALS research at www.alsmidatlantic.org.
Research Initiatives
| Project Title | Applicant | Award Start Date | Award End Date | Award Amount | Primary Organization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory Health Management in Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis through Telemonitoring and Nurse Health Coaching | Simmons, Zachary | 01/31/2020 | 07/31/2023 | $197,302.00 | The Pennsylvania State University |
| Improving and expanding access to clinical trials in the Tri-State region | Ilieva, Hristelina | 01/31/2023 | 01/30/2027 | $400,000.00 | Thomas Jefferson University |
| Enhancement of Trial Capacity at Temple University ALS Center of Hope | Heiman-Patterson, Terry | 11/01/2022 | 10/31/2026 | $400,000.00 | Temple University – Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education |
| Preclinical evaluation of bemcentinib as a novel therapeutic for ALS | Lee, Virginia | 01/15/2022 | 01/14/2024 | $500,000.00 | The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania |
| Digital assessment tools for ALS & FTD | Dacks, Penny | 01/01/2023 | 12/31/2025 | $500,000.00 | The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration |
| Axonal TDP-43 dysfunction as a pathogenic event in ALS | Donnelly, Christopher | 01/01/2023 | 12/31/2023 | $50,000.00 | University of Pittsburgh |
| Potentiation of a nuclear-import receptor to counteract aberrant TDP-43 assembly | Linsenmeier, Miriam | 11/01/2022 | 10/31/2024 | $133,490.00 | University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine |
| Identifying genetic and small molecular modifiers of FUS-mediated ALS | Pandey, Udai | 09/01/2018 | 12/31/2021 | $300,000.00 | University of Pittsburgh Medical Center |
| 2023 Sheila Essey Award for ALS Research | Lee, Virginia | 06/01/2023 | 05/31/2024 | $50,000.00 | University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine |