In 2024, ALS Canada united with the global ALS research community to drive understanding and discovery of new treatments. Through collaborations with international partners and ongoing efforts within Canada, ALS Canada is proud to be recognized as a leader, thanks to the generosity of our donors.
Building strong partnerships across Western Canada
In October 2024, Tammy Moore, CEO, and Dr. David Taylor, Chief Scientific Officer at ALS Canada, visited Alberta and British Columbia to strengthen relationships with key researchers, clinicians, and community partners who are advancing ALS care and research. The visit offered an opportunity to hear firsthand about the progress in understanding the disease and exploring new treatments.
The meetings included stops at the University of Alberta, where they participated in a mini-research symposium, and Calgary, where they visited the South Health Campus ALS Clinic and Foothills Medical Centre to see how research shapes clinical practices. These conversations focused on current research projects, the impact of ALS Canada’s funding, and the upcoming National ALS Genetic Counsellor initiative, a collaboration with the University of Calgary that will provide crucial support to families nationwide.
“It was invaluable to connect directly with people at the forefront of ALS care and research,” said Tammy Moore. “By fostering these relationships, we can better focus our efforts and resources on areas that will make the biggest impact for people living with ALS.”
The tour also included meetings with the ALS Society of BC, the ALS Society of Alberta, and ALS Action Canada, underscoring a shared commitment to improving support for people living with ALS. One outcome of these discussions was to host a National Research Summit to align efforts and develop a more unified approach to ALS care and research across the country.
“We’re seeing promising advancements in ALS research across Canada,” said Dr. Taylor. “By bringing everyone together, we can connect the dots and identify opportunities to strengthen the entire ALS research ecosystem.”
This tour highlighted the power of collaboration and deepened ALS Canada’s partnerships with key stakeholders, strengthening the foundation for ongoing support and research investments that will move us closer to a world free of ALS.
United in global collaboration to accelerate ALS research
In 2024, a groundbreaking initiative united ALS research leaders from around the world to accelerate progress toward a world free of ALS.
Spearheaded by FightMND in Australia, the Global ALS/MND Research Roundtable brought together more than 40 experts, including Dr. David Taylor, ALS Canada’s Chief Scientific Officer.
Since the first meeting in Melbourne, ALS Canada has played a key partnership role in shaping the collaborative strategy. What began as a two-day workshop has expanded into a global initiative with more than 600 researchers and clinicians from over 50 countries. Together, they are focusing on seven priority areas critical to advancing ALS research, including big data, biobanking, biomarkers, and clinical trials.
A follow-up meeting at the 2024 International ALS/MND Symposium in Montreal refined the strategy and solidified next steps towards true global engagement. Now, in 2025, researchers are finalizing a prioritized list of actions that will propel ALS research forward by collaboratively tackling critical gaps. A second roundtable in Melbourne this September will focus on refining these actions, forming working groups, and securing funding to launch the most promising global projects.
“Canada’s involvement in global research initiatives like this one is essential to ensuring we contribute to and learn from the most current, coordinated efforts to better understand and treat ALS,” said Dr. Taylor. “Collaborations like this leverage our supporters’ generous contributions by complementing our Canadian research funding programs with influencing priorities in other countries, to maximize our overall impact. It’s an honour to represent Canada in this vital work.”
ALS Canada is proud to work alongside FightMND, contributing our scientific expertise and supporting the global collaboration to address the most critical needs in ALS research.