The ALS Therapy Development Institute

Lou Gehrig’s Disease or ALS, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, eventually leaving a person paralyzed. It is eventually fatal. ALS afflicts more than 350,000 Americans at any given time, striking approximately 6,000 people annually – 30,000 in the US.

ALS has no prejudice — it occurs worldwide, with no age, ethnic or economic boundaries. It can happen to anyone, and it’s devastating to them and to those who love them.

ALS is extremely difficult to diagnose. A lot is known about what happens once ALS begins, but its causes are still relatively unknown.

There is no cure for ALS. But scientific research is answering some of the questions about the causes and progression of the disease with the goal of developing effective treatment. But money is needed to support continuing research.

The Margaret Roblin fund earmarks 100% of funds raised to the ALS Therapy Institute. The ALS Therapy Development Institute is a nonprofit biotechnology company discovering treatments for patients alive today. ALS TDI combines the power of a nonprofit mission with the best practices of a for-profit biotechnology company: rigorous, open-minded research and proven drug development techniques.

• The laboratory, a leading drug discovery program for ALS, bridges a critical research gap
• In-house expertise translates research into potential drug candidates by screening drugs in the SOD1 mouse model of ALS.
• Scientific collaborations are designed to bring the most promising leads closer to patient use.
• Emerging knowledge on the disease is shared with patients, physicians, and researchers as quickly and comprehensively as possible.
• Every decision is made in the interest of finding effective treatments for people living with ALS.
• ALS TDI’s unique approach accelerates drug development for ALS.