Nine projects to advance the ALS research landscape funded through ALS Society of Canada and Brain Canada partnership, with support from the Dr. Jean-Pierre Canuel Fund – SLA Québec. Toronto – The ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada) and Brain Canada are joining forces to invest in cutting-edge discoveries and treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis […]
Investing in the future change-makers of ALS research
The ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada) and Brain Canada are investing in the future of innovative scientists who are changing the landscape of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research and treatments in Canada. Together they are contributing a total of $250,000 to support the 2022 Career Transition Award recipient, Philip McGoldrick, an exciting emerging talent […]
You’re supporting the ALS community today and tomorrow
It’s been 15 years since my cousin Doug, who was like a big brother to me, was diagnosed with ALS. Our options were limited then with only one approved therapy available. We didn’t know what to do and who to turn to as we navigated the bend in the road. Today, when I reflect on […]
Major investment in top talent in ALS research
Toronto – The ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada) and Brain Canada are powering innovative discoveries and treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through exciting new research funding. Together they are investing a total of $390,000 to support three doctoral awards and one postdoctoral fellowship. These projects will build on existing knowledge of the biological […]
ALS Canada Research Update, September 2022
ALS researchers from around the world continue to build upon existing work and make new discoveries in the hopes of realizing a future without ALS. In the September 2022 Research Update, you’ll learn about the progress researchers have made in untangling the complex biology that contributes to ALS, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to […]
Going for gold: Researchers open the blood-brain barrier for better drug delivery
One of the most important safeguards in our bodies is the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Created by tightly interlocked vessel wall cells, the barrier prevents viruses and other microscopic malcontents that could do much harm to our central nervous system from entering our central nervous system. While the BBB is exceptional at keeping us safe, it […]
A novel collaboration brings decades of expertise to ALS research
Dr. Angela Genge has been working on clinical trials for ALS for years, but there’s still a major hurdle to identifying effective treatments. “We’re still using functional measures to see whether or not something is working,” she said. This includes more subjective measures such as patient self-reporting or observations by clinicians, which she says, is […]
Pushing boundaries in medical imaging to explore new pathways for ALS treatment
Neurological imaging has advanced by leaps and bounds in the past two decades. Researchers can now “see” details of biological processes at a level never previously imagined. But we still aren’t using imaging to its full potential, says Dr. Freimut Juengling, a nuclear oncologist, neuroscientist and director of the PET/MR centre at the University of […]
Alberta man first to be recruited for CAPTURE (Comprehensive Analysis Platform To Understand, Remedy, and Eliminate) ALS
Garry Zelasek is the type of guy who would give you the shirt off his back. “He’s always been selfless that way,” says his wife, Michelle. “He’s just a very kind-hearted soul who is always putting other people before him.” That is why after his diagnosis with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), it came as no […]
Frequently Asked Questions – ALBRIOZA (AMX0035)
Last Update: August 11, 2022 GENERAL What is ALBRIOZA (AMX0035)? ALBRIOZA (sodium phenylbutyrate/ursodoxicoltaurine) is indicated for the treatment of people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Sodium phenybutyrate is a histone deacetylase inhibitor that is believed to reduce a mechanism known as endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) that may contribute to motor neuron degeneration in […]
ALS Canada Research Update, June 2022
ALS researchers from around the world continue to build upon existing work and make new discoveries in the hopes of realizing a future without ALS. In the June 2022 Research Update, you’ll learn about the progress researchers have made in understanding the role of astrocytes in disease progression, gene mutations that may protect against ALS, […]
Raise your hand in support of continuing to build Canada as a primary destination for ALS clinical trials
History and context Canada has a rich history in ALS clinical trials. Though an ALS research community developed here alongside the rest of the world in the late 1970s and 1980s, Dr. Andrew Eisen at Vancouver General Hospital is widely regarded as the first ALS clinical trialist in the country, leading a double blind, placebo-controlled […]
Discovery Grant gives lab capacity to deepen its focus on ALS
TDP-43 is a protein that lives in the nucleus of our cells. But in at least 97 per cent of ALS patients, TDP-43 somehow finds its way out of the nucleus – also called “mislocalization” – and starts to “clump” up in the cell. There are still a number of questions to answer about this […]
2022 ALS Canada Research Forum fosters continued collaboration in the research community
Researchers are at a critical juncture in the study of ALS, with more pieces of the ALS biology puzzle available today than ever before. As labs continue to put the pieces together and identify new targets for therapeutics, work is being done to improve how clinicians communicate to ALS patients and their caregivers, enhance the […]
Novel collaborations could lead to more effective ways to treat patients with ALS
One of the first things that happens in neurodegenerative diseases is that neurons stop communicating with each other. And when neurons stop talking, they die. One hypothesis for this phenomenon is that the neurons get overly excited — so excited that, in simple terms, they burn themselves out. Researchers have known about the possible link […]
ALS Canada invests more than $800,000 in the future of ALS research
Toronto – Investing in specialized training in clinical care and research skills and supporting young minds are two important ways to continue to ensure the advancement of research across all areas related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The ALS Canada Research Program is proud to announce the awarding of two Clinical Research Fellowships and five […]
How “accidental” discoveries can lead to new insights in ALS biology
“We need to understand the fundamentals, we need to understand the underlying cell biology so that we can create good, rationally designed therapies.” – Dr. Christine Vande Velde “Everything started with a discovery we found by accident,” said Dr. Christine Vande Velde, a cellular biologist at the CHUM Research Centre at the University of Montreal. […]
What a new mouse model can teach us about weight loss, metabolism, and ALS
Two of the prominent hallmarks of ALS are weight loss and metabolic dysfunction. There are clues that hypermetabolism – when the body uses too much energy to regulate things like appetite, temperature, and hormones – might be a contributing factor, but there hasn’t been an effective way to study these questions. Until now. Using a […]
A powerful collaboration offers crucial insights at the frontier of ALS biology
Our understanding of cell biology has been revolutionized in the past decade, leading to new insights on how motor neurons degenerate at the cellular level. Early-career researchers Ji-Young Youn at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Hyun Kate Lee, at University of Toronto, Biochemistry Department, are at the forefront of understanding these fundamental biological […]
ALS Canada Research Update, March 2022
ALS researchers from around the world continue to build upon existing work and make new discoveries in the hopes of realizing a future without ALS. In the March 2022 Research Update, you’ll learn about advancements in our understanding of risk factors for ALS, a new platform designed to accelerate translational ALS research in Canada and […]
Truth may literally be in the eye of the beholder
We’ve long heard that the eyes are the window to the soul. But researchers are finding a new twist on this proverb that has powerful implications for understanding neurodegenerative diseases like ALS: the eyes as the window to the brain. With funding from the ALS Society of Canada and Brain Canada, an interdisciplinary team from […]
$1.125 million investment to advance understanding, diagnosis and treatment of ALS
Toronto – With promising new therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on the horizon, now is the time for ongoing investment in research discovery that will continue to fuel the development of treatments. That is why, together with Brain Canada, the ALS Canada Research Program is proud to announce nine new Discovery Grants, which were […]
Top Research Stories of 2021
As identified by the ALS Canada Research Team, here are the most newsworthy research stories of 2021 and a look ahead to 2022 with hope for what is to come. A possible third treatment for ALS under review by Health Canada AMX0035 is an oral drug that contains two small molecules thought to help […]
How does a new experimental treatment for ALS behave within the body?
An international Canada-Israel research partnership is taking important steps to determine whether a known drug has the potential to become a viable treatment for people with ALS. Recently, using a mouse model, Dr. Eran Hornstein of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel showed that the antibiotic enoxacin holds promise at correcting a malfunctioning pathway […]
Is there a link between metabolism and ALS disease progression?
While a fast metabolism is often thought of as an asset, there is increasing evidence that in ALS patients, hypermetabolism could be linked to faster-progressing disease. Now, with funding from the ALS Society of Canada and Brain Canada, a team made up of Dr. Jasna Kriz (CERVO Brain Research Centre, Université Laval), Dr. Nicolas Dupré […]
ALS Canada Research Update, October 2021
ALS researchers from around the world continue to build upon existing work and make new discoveries in the hopes of realizing a future without ALS. In the October 2021 Research Update, you’ll learn about the progress researchers have made in identifying new ALS risk factors and treatment targets, increasing our understanding around how the body […]
How does the loss of the normal function of DNAJC7 cause ALS?
Thanks to new funding from the ALS Society of Canada and Brain Canada, Dr. Martin Duennwald of Western University, an expert on protein misfolding in neurodegenerative disease, is coming together with Dr. Sali Farhan, an up-and-coming Canadian researcher at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital). Together they will explore how mutations in DNAJC7 impede its ability […]
Can zebrafish help explain how mutations in this gene contribute to ALS?
An interdisciplinary Canadian team headed by Dr. Gary Armstrong of The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) is poised to explore how a recently linked pair of genes contribute to the onset of ALS. In 2014, mutations in a gene called CHCHD10 were newly identified as a genetic cause of ALS; just four years later, Dr. Eric […]
Is it possible to target the root cause of ALS linked to the C9ORF72 gene?
Dr. Christopher E. Pearson, a genetics expert based at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto and Full-Professor at the University of Toronto, has studied DNA repeat expansions, a type of genetic mutation common to neurodegenerative disease, for decades. Recently, his team successfully reversed one version of this type of mutation in a Huntington’s […]
ALS Canada Research Update, June 2021
The second quarter of 2021 continues to see progress within the field of ALS research. Some of the most notable discoveries at this point in the year include the identification of a possible link between the vascular system and ALS, identifying new treatment strategies for both genetic and sporadic forms of the disease, and gathering […]
Could mindfulness improve quality of life for people living with ALS?
Thanks to joint funding from Brain Canada and ALS Canada through the 2020 Discovery Grant Program, a team based at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) will be able to pioneer a study on mindfulness in ALS, with the goal of helping health care professionals, people living with ALS and their primary caregivers enjoy better quality […]
ALS Canada’s 2021 Research Forum: Bringing together the research and patient community virtually
Each year, ALS Canada convenes the brightest minds in ALS research across Canada at a two-day Research Forum to discuss their work and build capacity for more discoveries in this rapidly changing field. After the pandemic cancelled our plans to host the event in 2020, this year we brought the community together safely in a […]
Could inflammation in this pathway provide a new target for ALS therapies?
A newly identified pathway has been piquing research interest around the world for its possible role in ALS. Recently, Canadian virologist Dr. Honglin Luo, in collaboration with her colleague Dr. Neil Cashman, discovered that an immune pathway known as cGAS-STING – a catchier abbreviation for cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes – is activated by […]
New $2.85M grant to push ALS research forward
ALS Canada and Brain Canada join forces with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Regeneron to support a collaborative platform that will unite ALS researchers and accelerate breakthroughs. Together, Brain Canada and ALS Canada are pleased to announce the awarding of a $2,850,000 2019 Platform Support Grant (PSG) to Dr. Sanjay Kalra and team for the Comprehensive Analysis […]
The Brain-Gut connection: Could a probiotic help delay the onset or severity of ALS symptoms?
The relationship between the gut and the brain has received increasing attention in recent years, and while there is evidence that probiotics support gut health – new research shows that probiotics may also have intriguing possibilities for applications in ALS. A team led by Dr. Alex Parker (Department of Neuroscience, CRCHUM, Université de Montréal), has […]
Collaboration in Pursuit of a Future Without ALS: $1 Million Invested in ALS Research
Toronto – Sustained investment in transformative research is vital to unlocking the mysteries around the causes and progression of ALS, a devastating terminal disease that gradually paralyzes people because the brain is no longer able to communicate with the muscles of the body that are moved at will. That is why, together, the Brain Canada […]
Top Research Stories of 2020
Although 2020 was an unpredictable and challenging year, the ALS research community continued to push forward with major scientific advances in Canada and internationally. As identified by the ALS Canada Research Team, here are the most newsworthy research stories of 2020 and a look ahead to 2021 with hope for what is to come. ALS […]
ALS Research Update, November 2020
While 2020 has been an unpredictable and challenging year on many fronts, the ALS Canada Research Program continues to observe positive momentum in ALS research. This month you’ll learn about results from two different Phase 2 clinical trials in ALS; the normal function of the C9ORF72 protein; the role of perisynaptic Schwann cells at the […]
Ice Bucket Challenge Proceeds Help Fund First Canadian ALS Care and Management Guideline
Toronto – The Ice Bucket Challenge continues to make an impact. Proceeds from the highly successful 2014 viral sensation have helped fund a comprehensive new resource to guide efforts to ensure people living with ALS in Canada receive the best possible care no matter where they live. The first Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for the […]
ALS Doesn’t Stop – So Neither Can Research Investment
The ALS Canada Research Program awards $650K for three innovative new research initiatives, with an additional $1 million to be announced in 2021 TORONTO – The ALS Society of Canada today announced that as part of its 2020 research commitment, the ALS Canada Research Program is investing $650,000 in three new initiatives that will contribute […]
Thanks to our ALS Canada Research Forum sponsors for standing with us
You don’t need us to tell you that 2020 has thrown everyone and everything for a loop. A few months into the year, we all found ourselves having to adapt very quickly to mitigate the unknowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. For ALS Canada, that meant cancelling the 2020 edition of our annual ALS Canada Research […]
ALS Research Update, August 2020
The ALS Canada Research Program is encouraged by the continued momentum seen in ALS research at a time when support for it is more important than ever before. Read about the progress researchers have made in advancing new treatment strategies, understanding the effectiveness of riluzole in the real world; and learning how ALS develops and […]
ALS Research Update, May 2020
Welcome to the May 2020 ALS Research Update. During these times of uncertainty, it’s reassuring to know that ALS research developments continue around the globe. This month you’ll learn about progress researchers have made in advancing new treatment strategies; developing laboratory models to better understand ALS; and learning how ALS develops and progresses in the […]
Ice Bucket Challenge continues to drive research discovery by providing new insights into ALS
Within the brain, neurons are constantly communicating with each other. These communications can be inhibitory or excitatory, essentially like a stop or go signal. For our brains to function properly we need to have a balance between these two signals. Having too much of the excitatory, or “go” signal, has been linked to a variety […]
Can an animal model provide new insights into the formation of stress granules?
Alicia Dubinski may have inherited both her love for science and studying a neurodegenerative disease from her mother, a neuroscientist at the University of Toronto. When Dubinski was still a graduate student at the University of Waterloo, she met Dr. Christine Vande Velde at l’Université de Montréal in the Spring of 2019. She knew right […]
ALS Canada: Committed to the bright future of Canada’s ALS researchers
We are thrilled to share that the revamped ALS Canada Career Transition Award is accepting applications until Friday, February 21, 2020. This competition will help to support the next generation of scientists working toward a future without ALS. Originally launched in 2015, the competition ran for two years in partnership with Brain Canada (with the […]
Can new understandings about nuclear speckles lead to new treatment options for ALS?
In 2018, Dr. Ulises Rodriguez Corona was looking for a new research field where he could apply his knowledge and expertise in the biology of protein production in cells and the genetic instructions that control their behaviour. When he learned of an opportunity to perform high-tech research on protein-protein interactions in RNA metabolism in Dr. […]
Could newly discovered tags on TDP-43 protein explain its abnormal behaviour in ALS?
Overhearing one conversation was all it took to spark a new idea that became a funded ALS research project. Terry Suk, a PhD student working in the lab of Dr. Maxime Rousseaux at the University of Ottawa, heard Dr. Rousseaux and another student discuss a list of proteins in the brain that are modified by […]
Is the loss of normal function of C9ORF72 protein in a particular cell type a key driver of ALS disease processes?
Rahul Kumar has a burning curiosity to uncover the biological mechanisms driving neurodegenerative diseases. After finishing his combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science degrees at a prestigious research institute in India, he moved to Canada so he could work on ALS research. He joined Dr. Peter McPherson’s lab at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital […]
Top 10 Research Stories of 2019
2020 is shaping up to be another exciting year in ALS research discovery. Last year, major scientific advances in Canada and internationally led to significant and exciting progress in ALS research. As identified by the ALS Canada Research team, here are the most newsworthy research stories of 2019 that provide hope for what’s to come. […]
What is the role of a newly discovered protein in ALS?
Myriam Gagné was not expecting to work on ALS research. But the first time she saw Dr. Christine Vande Velde’s lab at l’Université de Montréal, it was “love at first sight.” Studying ALS would allow her to combine basic cell biology, neurosciences and biochemistry, her main academic areas of interest. She joined the lab in […]
Is an experimental drug that can prevent abnormal protein behaviour in ALS already out there?
When Marc Shenouda first learned about ALS as an undergraduate science student, he found himself asking many questions: Why is the average life expectancy only two to five years after diagnosis? Why is there is no cure yet? How can we find better treatments, ones that could extend life by more than a few months? […]
ALS Canada Invests Almost $1.4 Million Towards Innovative ALS Research Projects In Pursuit of a Future Without ALS
TORONTO – After a rigorous competition, the ALS Society of Canada today announced the recipients of the 2019 research funding grants. Through the ALS Canada Research Program, the only dedicated source of ALS research funding in Canada, nearly $1.4 million will be invested in leading-edge ALS research that will further the study of the disease. For […]
ALS Research Update | October 2019
ALS Research Update, October 2019 Welcome to the October 2019 ALS Research update. This month, you’ll learn about the progress researchers have made in: transforming the way clinical trials are conducted; understanding the roles that the microbiome and protein clumping may play in ALS; and identifying the mechanisms by which different genes may contribute to […]
Creating a foundation for future therapies: The need for antibody validation in ALS research
Antibodies are produced by the immune system to protect the body against foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. They work by binding to specific proteins on harmful agents and triggering their removal or destruction. Antibodies are also commonly used as a tool in research because they bind to particular proteins. This allows researchers to see […]
What’s all this FUS about? A new way of delivering future ALS treatments is off to a good start.
Delivering promising treatments to the brain can be a challenge because our bodies have a specialized barrier, called the blood-brain barrier, that protects it from substances in the bloodstream. For people living with ALS, this means researchers need to develop creative ways to cross this barrier so that potential treatments can be delivered directly to […]
ALS Research Update | August 2019
What’s happening in the world of ALS research at this point in the year? Read about the progress researchers have made in developing new and better models to study ALS in the lab, insights gained into the progression of ALS on a cellular level, new compounds identified as potential treatment strategies for ALS and the […]
Can the key to slowing ALS progression be found in the immune cells of the brain?
Microglia are the primary immune cells of the brain and spinal cord. They patrol the central nervous system to track down and dispose of unwanted cellular debris and dead neurons, as well as organisms like bacteria and viruses that pose a threat of infection. When they detect invaders, they change their behaviour to summon the […]
Partnering with the ALS community on a new assessment tool
When someone has a disease, like ALS, their quality of life is affected in many different ways as the disease progresses. “Quality of life can mean many different things to different people. For some, it means functional abilities, like walking to the mailbox, but for others, it may mean leisure activities, or family and social […]
Can new understandings about RNA granules explain types of ALS?
Over the past several years, ALS researchers have learned that little structures in motor neurons called RNA granules are one of the most common biological differences in people with ALS and frontotemporal dementia compared to people without those diseases. These small ball-like granules are made of RNA, molecules that relay the genetic instructions in DNA, […]
Does a previously unstudied protein play an important role in ALS?
A protein called TDP-43 is usually found inside the cell nucleus where it plays an essential role in regulating many cellular processes. But in 97 per cent of people with ALS and nearly half of the people with frontotemporal dementia, TDP-43 is found outside the cell nucleus in an area called the cytoplasm. Understanding why […]
Can antibodies help diagnosis ALS faster?
Current methods for diagnosing ALS can take up to two years and rely heavily on ruling out other conditions that share similar signs and symptoms. It is believed that by the time ALS is diagnosed, therapies may be less effective as the damage to neurons is too extensive. Therefore, a better way of diagnosing ALS […]
Does a viral infection play a role in ALS onset and progression?
A group of viruses called enteroviruses usually cause mild illnesses with symptoms that may include fever, respiratory issues and flu-like muscle aches, similar to the common cold. However, some can cause more serious health problems, such as enterovirus D68 that can cause severe respiratory illness or the poliovirus that causes polio. Some researchers have long […]
ALS Research Update | March 2019
Bringing you the latest news on advancements in ALS research, the ALS Canada Research Program team regularly summarizes what they believe are the most significant discoveries throughout the year. This is the first update for 2019. Researchers identify a potential new biomarker and drug target for ALS Did you know that there is a protein […]
Can Advanced Brain Imaging Diagnose ALS Earlier?
Current methods for diagnosing ALS involve ruling out other diseases that share similar symptoms. As a result, it can take a year or more from the onset of symptoms to confirm a diagnosis of ALS. That’s far too long — especially for a disease that on average claims lives within two to five years after […]
Could decreasing the over-excitability of motor neurons be a new way to treat ALS?
Within the brain and spinal cord, neurons pass electrical signals to each other through specialized chemicals called neurotransmitters. When this signalling network functions properly, there is a good balance between chemicals that excite the neurons and chemicals that inhibit them. Both excitation and inhibition are necessary for the brain to function normally and send signals […]
Do newly-discovered alternative proteins play a role in ALS?
Proteins are essential building blocks the body uses to make tissues such as muscles, cartilage, skin and blood. Conventional science assumes that a section of DNA known as a gene provides instructions for a single protein, or “encodes” a single protein. A molecule called messenger RNA carries those instructions for the production of one specific […]
Cutting-edge technology allows University of Toronto researchers to tackle ALS in a new way.
Scientists have discovered variation within different areas of the brain and spinal cord of people living with ALS — some areas show greater degeneration while others are unaffected. With a $125,000 project grant from the ALS Canada Research Program in 2018, Dr. Janice Robertson and Dr. Paul McKeever, a postdoctoral fellow in her lab, will […]
Can a revolutionary gene-editing tool create better animal models for studying ALS?
Animal models enable scientists to study human diseases in lab settings. They help scientists learn about the biological changes that occur during disease onset and progression, and they can also speed the identification of promising therapies for testing in future clinical trials with human volunteers. In 2005, when he was still a graduate student, Dr. […]
How are two of the most common occurrences in ALS related?
Scientific discoveries are like puzzles. At first, two puzzle pieces may not appear to fit together, but then a new way of comparing them makes it possible to see how they connect, helping to fill in the picture. Mutations in the C9ORF72 gene are the most common genetic cause of ALS. Another abnormality that occurs […]
Can measuring “biological age” explain why ALS affects people differently?
ALS manifests very differently among people who develop the disease. It can occur anytime in adulthood. People usually only live two to five years after diagnosis, but it can range from six months to more than 20 years. Some people living with ALS, about 30 to 50 percent, experience cognitive or behavioural difficulties. Why does […]
Top 10 research stories of 2018
Last year, major scientific advances in Canada and internationally led to significant and exciting progress in ALS research. Discoveries that increase our understanding of ALS are happening far more often than ever before, and as a result many new experimental treatments are set to begin human clinical trials in the next few years. Due to […]
ALS Society of Canada dedicates last of the matched Ice Bucket Challenge research funding to early-career researchers in pursuit of a future without ALS
2018 funding competition with Brain Canada results in $720,000 for six trainee awards – more trainee awards in a single year than ever before TORONTO December 13, 2018 – The ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada), together with Brain Canada, today announced $720,000 in funding for six new trainee awards, thus completing the last of the […]
Thanks to donor generosity ALS Canada invests $1 million in innovative Canadian ALS research to provide a greater understanding of ALS
The ALS Canada Research Program awards eight new project grants in the pursuit of new therapy targets. TORONTO, November 15, 2018 – The ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada) today announced an investment of $1 million in eight new research projects being funded in 2018 through the ALS Canada Research Program, which is the only […]
ALS Research Update, October 2018
ALS research is at a time of unprecedented advancement and Canada’s world-class ALS research community – along with international ALS researchers and experts – are accomplishing more than ever before. With new advancements being announced daily, the ALS Canada Research Program team regularly summarizes what we believe are the most significant research discoveries. We’re excited […]
Power in Numbers
Updated October 17, 2018 The first ALS gene was discovered over two decades ago. By the end of 2017, scientists had found more than 25 genes. By studying these genes that are involved in familial ALS, which accounts for 5 to 10 per cent of ALS cases, researchers hope to learn more about the 90 […]
Can environmental impacts on genes explain why ALS affects people differently?
Updated October 17, 2018 Over the last decade, scientists have discovered many genes related to ALS, but there are still many questions about how mutations in those genes spark the development of the disease. The range of onset for ALS is wide: it can occur anytime in adulthood. The disease duration is usually two to […]
New clinical trials for Canadians with ALS
Updated October 17, 2018 The opportunity to be involved in clinical trials for experimental ALS treatments is something that is often on the radar for people who are living with ALS. Did you know that there are three clinical trials in Canada that recently started recruiting volunteers or will open soon? On Wednesday, October 17, […]
The impact of donor dollars on ALS research in Canada
The result of the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge gave the ALS community a tremendous gift: awareness and unprecedented investment in ALS research. Thanks to the viral fundraising phenomenon that year, along with matched funds from Brain Canada (through the Canada Brain Research Fund with financial support from Health Canada), the investment of $20 million allowed […]
Every August Until A Cure 2018
“Every August until a cure.” These five words were first spoken by ALS patient and advocate, Pat Quinn, upon accepting a Webby Award for his part in creating the Ice Bucket Challenge. The social media phenomenon raised millions of dollars for charitable organizations dedicated to funding ALS research and support services. This type of investment […]
ALS Research Update, June 2018
ALS research is at a time of unprecedented advancement. Our biggest hope is to stop ALS from stealing dreams, abilities, and lives – and researchers are closer than they’ve ever been to making this a reality. With such unprecedented momentum, we can’t afford to be stagnant. Give now to stop ALS from taking. This ALS […]
Can microscopic bubbles in our blood deliver ALS therapies effectively?
One of the hallmark characteristics of ALS is the clumping of proteins in motor neurons that are believed to cause toxicity and eventual death of the motor neurons, resulting in the loss of muscle control and mobility, and eventually, the abilities to eat and breathe. Many scientists are looking for ways to eliminate protein clumping […]
Ice Bucket Challenge funded research published in scientific journal “Cell”
New research from the University of Toronto and the University of Cambridge, funded in part by the Ice Bucket Challenge and the ALS Society of Canada’s partnership with Brain Canada, is having an impact on our understanding of ALS and expanding the pathways for research into ALS treatments. Published today in Cell, the findings reveal […]
Can insights about why eye muscles are resistant to ALS help preserve function in other muscles?
Muscles are made of separate fibres bundled together that receive signals from motor neurons, causing the muscles to contract or relax. Motor neurons connect to individual muscle fibres connect to at tiny places called neuromuscular junctions where specialized glial cells called perisynaptic Schwann cells (PSCs) keep the connections functioning well in a healthy body. PSCs […]
The ALS Association Partners with the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the ALS Society of Canada to Establish the ALS Reproducible Antibody Platform
Washington, D.C. (March 8, 2018) – The ALS Association, in partnership with the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND Association) and the ALS Society of Canada, is pleased to announce $600,000 in funding to support the ALS Reproducible Antibody Platform (ALS-RAP). The funding will support the creation of an open-access pipeline to validate antibody research and […]
ALS Research Update, February 2018
ALS research is at a time of unprecedented advancement. New information on genes linked to ALS and the downstream effects of mutations in these genes has helped researchers to develop a roadmap of the biological pathways that are important in ALS and to gain a better understanding of this complex disease. With new advancements being […]
Leveraging scientific advancements and open science to study ALS progression
ALS is a disease that gradually paralyzes people as motor neurons lose their ability to communicate with the muscles of the body and eventually die. But the problems are not only caused by changes inside motor neurons: the cellular environment around the motor neurons can contribute significantly to disease progression. Microglia are the immune cells […]
Could studying yeast help to answer questions about how ALS progresses?
If you look at a picture of a cell in a science textbook, the internal structures look static and neatly organized. But living cells are bustling with numerous processes, converting nutrients into energy and making proteins that the body’s tissues and organs need to function and grow. Proteins must fold into specific 3D shapes so […]
Could touchscreen technology improve testing for cognitive impairment in ALS?
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a group of disorders caused by nerve cell loss in areas of the brain responsible for managing cognitive functions and voluntary movement. By itself, FTD, which is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, can cause memory issues and attention problems, and impair cognitive flexibility — the ability […]
Comparing DNA profiles of Canadians with a similar heritage
Deep inside the nucleus of every cell in the body, DNA carries the master blueprint—the full set of genetic instructions needed for the body to grow, live and reproduce. DNA looks like a twisted ladder made from 3.2 billion pairs of building blocks that join to make up the rungs of the ladder. A complete […]
Most newsworthy research stories of 2017
In 2017, major scientific advances in Canada and internationally have led to significant and exciting progress in ALS research. Discoveries that increase our understanding of the disease are happening far more often than ever before and as a result many new experimental treatments are set to begin human clinical trials in the next few years. […]
Can a guardian protein protect motor neurons from toxicity in ALS?
Proteins are the workhorses inside cells, responsible for almost all cellular functions. To perform their tasks correctly, they must fold into the right 3D shapes. If they take on the wrong shape, they can stick together and form clumps. If the misfolded proteins are not removed by protective mechanisms in cells, they can cause toxic […]
Can probiotics play a protective role in ALS?
Probiotics are friendly, live bacteria that are good for the digestive system. You may be familiar with the digestive benefits of probiotics in foods like yogurt or kefir. Many scientists are investigating how changes in the composition of intestinal bacteria may play a role in a range of diseases including obesity, colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease […]
Understanding if and how the body compensates for motor neuron loss in ALS
An electrical diagram of a building shows where all the electrical wires, fixtures and components are connected to an electrical system. When a circuit is faulty, it’s easy to identify the culprit because specific lights will not work. But the human nervous system is far more complicated. It is a living network of nerves that […]
Can a promising drug combination address one of the most defining biological characteristics of ALS?
All cells in our bodies make proteins, but sometimes they make mistakes, resulting in proteins that have the wrong shape. In a healthy body, protective mechanisms within the cells deal with the misshapen proteins so they don’t cause trouble, but when those mechanisms fail, the defective proteins can accumulate in clumps, making it difficult for […]
ALS Canada awards $3 million for 12 new research projects to help make amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) a treatable, not terminal disease
TORONTO, November 22, 2017 – Today, the ALS Society of Canada announced 12 exciting new research projects being funded in 2017 through the ALS Canada Research Program, which is supported by ALS Societies across Canada. The research being funded includes a multi-year study of a promising drug combination, three trainee grants that will help to […]
ALS Research Update, November 2017
ALS research is at a time of unprecedented advancement. New information on genes linked to ALS and the downstream effects of mutations in these genes has helped researchers to develop a so-called ‘roadmap’ of biological pathways that are important in ALS and to gain a better understanding of this complex disease. With new advancements being […]
Strengthening Canada’s Excellence in ALS Clinical Trials
For a disease like ALS that has few treatment options and no cure, clinical trials are the best hope for the future. Participants in clinical trials play a critical role to help determine if a new treatment can slow, halt or reverse disease progression, or if a new intervention can improve the quality of life […]
Research to help people with ALS stay active and independent
Updated October 20, 2017 Staying active and independent for as long as possible is important for people living with ALS as the disease progresses. There are many ways in which to manage symptoms or receive care, but there often isn’t enough research performed to determine which approaches make the greatest difference. To help address these […]
Finding New Ways to Diagnose ALS Faster with Advanced Imaging
ALS is difficult to diagnose because no single test or procedure can firmly identify the disease. Current diagnostic tests for ALS focus on ruling out other diseases that share similar initial symptoms. For example, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a test typically used to eliminate a diagnosis of cancer, multiple sclerosis or pressure on the […]
Maximizing the impact of donor dollars for ALS research
Finding new treatments that can change the course of ALS requires a robust research program, one that supports a large community of researchers exploring multiple avenues of inquiry. ALS Canada has been supporting world-class research across Canada for more than 30 years with a variety of grants and awards that are helping to learn more […]
ALS researchers respond to the Ice Bucket Challenge
In 2014, the Ice Bucket Challenge became a viral social media sensation … and ALS researchers across the country – along with ALS Canada staff and supporters – responded to the challenge. For a full list of the researchers in the video, see below. ALS Canada Staff Dr. Richard Bedlack, Duke ALS Clinic, North Carolina Sneha […]
Bench Strength: The Power of Collaboration Fuels Canada’s ALS Research
It all started about five years ago, with worms in a Petri dish in a Canadian ALS researcher’s lab. Today, researchers are preparing to launch a Phase 2 clinical trial of the drug pimozide, which in a couple of months will begin recruiting participants at multiple locations across Canada. The story of how this discovery […]
Dr. Christen Shoesmith discusses the importance of donor support
Dr. Christen Shoesmith is the Director of the Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, a member of the London Health Sciences Centre, as well as a member of the Client Services Advisory Council and co-investigator for two ALS Canada clinical research fellowship grants. She is also the chair of the ALS Best Practice Recommendations. Why is donor support […]
ALS Research Update, August 2017
ALS research is at a time of unprecedented advancement. New information on genes linked to ALS and the downstream effects of mutations in these genes has helped researchers to develop a so-called ‘roadmap’ of biological pathways that are important in ALS and to gain a better understanding of this complex disease. With new advancements being […]
Eric Martineau: ALS Researcher Profile
Eric Martineau is a PhD student in Richard Robitaille’s laboratory at l’Université de Montréal. In 2015, he received the ALS Canada Doctoral Research Award, which provides $25,000 per year over three years for young researchers to pursue a PhD in a Canadian laboratory. How long have you been studying ALS? I’ve been studying ALS since 2011 when I joined the […]
Audrey Labarre: ALS Researcher Profile
Audrey Labarre studies in Dr. Alex Parker’s lab at l’Université de Montréal. Could you tell us a little bit about your work? We’re working with the C. elegans, little worms one millimetre long. We use them to model the ALS disease. I’m interested in the gut microbiota – all your bacterial friends that are living […]
Elsa Tremblay – ALS and the Neuromuscular Junction
Updated October 20, 2017 Elsa Tremblay from l’Université de Montréal studies ALS because of a personal connection. Is there anything in particular that drew you to studying ALS? I went into ALS because my father died from ALS, and also my grandmother. So it’s pretty clear that ALS is running in the family…probably a genetic […]
Pimozide: Everything Old is New Again
Updated October 20, 2017 Very early in his medical training, Dr. Lawrence Korngut was introduced to the concept of ALS. “As a neurologist, I have always been very interested in the physical exam and ALS is the perfect example since the diagnosis is made entirely by physical exam,” said Dr. Korngut in an interview with […]
Dr. Christen Shoesmith – ALS Best Practice Recommendations
Updated November 28, 2017 A group of ALS clinicians across the country is developing Best Practice Recommendations to set a common standard of care for Canadians living with ALS. Dr. Christen Shoesmith of the London Health Sciences Centre explains. She will be speaking about the Canadian ALS Best Practice Recommendations at the Virtual Research Forum on […]
ALS Canada Webinar Series: Clinical Trials
Many people living with ALS and their families want to know how scientific discoveries move from basic research in the laboratory through different phases of clinical trials using human volunteers. They also want to understand why clinical research is required before a new therapy is approved and why it takes so long for researchers to […]
From Inquiry to Insight: Dr. Michael Strong
Updated October 20, 2017 Dr. Michael Strong has spent his career as a clinician scientist researching ALS with a determined curiosity and keen attention to new learning in the field. Over the years, people living with ALS and their families have been an ongoing source of inspiration to him. “The toughest thing in life is […]
Skin models for the study of ALS
Updated October 20, 2017 Bastien Paré from l’Université Laval has been studying ALS for more than five years. We spoke with him about his research and the future of ALS in Canada. Can you tell us about your ALS Canada-funded research? I’m quite different from most people that are working on neurons, and trying to understand […]
Every August Until A Cure
“Every August until a cure.” These five words were first spoken by ALS patient and advocate Pat Quinn upon accepting a Webby Award for his part in creating the Ice Bucket Challenge. The social media phenomenon and global sensation raised millions of dollars for charitable organizations dedicated to funding ALS research and support, and gave […]
Learning more about how gene mutations can cause ALS
Updated October 20, 2017 In the late 1980s, Dr. Neil Cashman was completing a neurology fellowship in ALS at the University of Chicago. At that time, little was known about the genetics or biology of ALS and Dr. Cashman became captivated by trying to understand the cause of the progressive paralysis he observed in his […]
For Tom and Denis, the Ice Bucket Challenge is Personal
Like many people, Denis and his husband Tom were familiar with the Ice Bucket Challenge that became a social media phenomenon in the summer of 2014 – but they never imagined they would one day have a personal motivation to participate. That all changed in 2015 when Denis was diagnosed with ALS. From that point […]
Could viruses play a role in the onset or progression of ALS in people with a genetic link?
Updated November 28, 2017 When a person is infected with a virus, it triggers an immune response that generally results in inflammation. For example – think of the sore throat, redness and swelling that occurs when you are sick with tonsillitis. The immune response is designed to rid the body of the pathogens causing the […]
Dr. Richard Bedlack’s Quest for ALS Discovery: The Truth is Out There
Updated October 20, 2017 Dr. Richard Bedlack’s passion for neurology started when he was a child. As many children do, he used to roll down hills with his little brother – but Dr. Bedlack’s inquisitive nature made him wonder why it made them dizzy. His fascination with the nervous system grew over time as he […]
Q&A with Dr. David Taylor, VP, Research
This interview was originally posted on the Hitfar website in February 2017. Thank you to Hitfar for giving ALS Canada permission to re-post this content. Could you start by explaining the disease and its effects? ALS is a disease where the living wires, called motor neurons, that connect your brain to your muscles die. This means […]
ALS Canada Webinar Series: Research Update
ALS research is at a significant tipping point, and we can now envision a future where ALS becomes a treatable condition. This was one of the highlights shared by Dr. David Taylor, Vice President of Research at ALS Canada, during a webinar presentation on June 13, 2017. The webinar was the first in a series […]
The ALS Canada Research Program
Today was the deadline for applications from the research community for three different types of funding through the ALS Canada Research Program. Applications are evaluated by an international panel of scientific experts through a peer review process, regarded as the international benchmark of excellence in research funding. This approach enables us to maximize the impact […]
Could state-of-the-art gene editing play a role in correcting genetic mutations linked to the development of ALS?
Research is increasingly demonstrating that genetic mutations play a significant role in the development of ALS: for example, the C9orf72 gene is one of the most prominent genetic causes of the disease. With the scientific community abuzz about CRISPR/CAS9, a state-of-the-art technology that enables scientists to precisely manipulate and edit genes in living organisms, the […]
A second ALS treatment, edaravone, has been newly approved in the United States
Updated May 13, 2022 Highlights: In May 2017 the United States Food and Drug Administration approved edaravone (also referred to as Radicava and Radicut) for the treatment of ALS. It’s the second ALS drug to be approved in the US. The first drug, riluzole, was approved more than 20 years ago. Radicava became available in […]
Upcoming Webinar: The Canadian ALS Neuroimaging Consortium (CALSNIC)
Webinar: The Canadian ALS Neuroimaging Consortium (CALSNIC) Monday, April 24 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time: 30 minutes + questions Hosted by: Dr. Sanjay Kalra Click here to register for the Webinar During this webinar you can expect to learn how Dr. Kalra has built a team of researchers across Canada to develop the ability to […]
New Canadian investments in ALS research reflect growing knowledge about the disease and increasing likelihood of effective treatments being developed
The ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada), in partnership with Brain Canada, today announced $4.5 million in funding for nine new ALS research projects. This means that since the Ice Bucket Challenge became a social media phenomenon in 2014, nearly $20 million has been invested in Canadian ALS research at a time when it has […]
Canada’s rising stars in ALS research receive more than $1 million from the ALS Canada Research Program and Brain Canada
The generosity of Canadians has helped three early-career researchers to make ALS the focus of their work in the country’s labs and academic institutions. The research funding, which totals more than $1 million, has been awarded through the ALS Canada Research Program and Brain Canada as a result of money raised through the Ice Bucket […]
Ice Bucket Challenge leads to ALS gene discovery
Earlier this week researchers announced that the gene NEK1 has been found to play a significant role in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This landmark discovery is the result of an 11-country research collaboration that was funded through the Ice Bucket Challenge. The research team included 3 Canadians, one of whom was directly […]
New bona fide ALS gene discovered by international group of researchers
A large consortium of researchers from six countries have definitively identified a new ALS gene called TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) by performing a rigorous study that involved sequencing of more than 2800 people with ALS compared with more than 6000 control samples. Canadian researcher Dr. Guy Rouleau, Director of the Montreal Neurological Institute and his […]