A meeting of the minds: Sharing discoveries

Scientists and clinicians from an array of ALS networks meet at regular intervals to discuss their findings and implement new trials; many of these meetings have received funding from the ALS Therapy Alliance and CVS/pharmacy partnership. These groups include the country’s largest clinical trials network, known as the Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS), the ALS Research Group, and the International Consortium on ALS and Superoxide Dismutase (ICOSA). The ATA believes that financial support for NEALS is critical, as this group is extremely active in conducting ALS clinical research and trials around ALS. NEALS is conducting a number of promising clinical trials, including studies to determine whether creatine (an energy-enhancing substance) and tamoxifen (an estrogen receptor blocking drug) impact neurodegenerative disorders like ALS.