Leading global ALS scientists meet to defeat ALS

Led by Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSc, Director of the Healey Center for ALS and Chief of Neurology at Mass General, the SAC of 10 scientists from leading global institutions reviewed top ALS targets for treatments and approaches to accelerate therapy development and broaden access to treatments for people with ALS.

One day after the launch of the new Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General on November 29 and 30, 2018, the Center’s scientific advisory council (SAC) held their first meeting in Palm Beach, Florida. Led by Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSc, Director of the Healey Center for ALS and Chief of Neurology at Mass General, the Scientific Advisory Council of 10 scientists from leading global institutions reviewed top ALS targets for treatments and approaches to accelerate therapy development and broaden access to treatments for people with ALS. With a mission to accelerate the discoveries of new treatments and cures for ALS, the group explored topics including Stathmin-2, JAK pathway and ds-RNA, ensemble platforms for stem cells, use of digital medicine and digital monitoring in ALS, gene therapy and other therapeutic approaches. The SAC members eagerly shared their ideas on new exciting science and ways to intervene to treat ALS. The next SAC meeting will be held on Feb 11th in Boston, MA.

Since 1993, when Dr. Brown at Mass General led the international team that discovered the first ALS-associated gene, Mass General has been at the center of ALS research to create new breakthroughs, accelerate progress and increase access to research discoveries. The Healey Center for ALS offers the largest hospital-based research program for the disease, with 12 faculty and over 100 staff.