Published in Research on February 10, 2022
Tags: ALS Canada Research Program, funding als research
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 […]
Published in Research on November 4, 2021
Tags: ALS Canada Research Program, als-research-profile, funding als research, women in science
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 […]
Published in Research on October 21, 2021
Tags: ALS Canada Research Program, ALS research, als-research-profile, funding als research, women in science
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 […]
Published in Research on October 13, 2021
Tags: ALS Canada Research Program, ALS research, als-research-profile, funding als research, women in science
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 […]
Published in Research on September 21, 2021
Tags: ALS Canada Research Program, ALS research, als-research-profile, funding als research
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 […]
Published in Research on November 12, 2020
Tags: ALS Canada Research Program, ALS research, funding als research, research funding
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 […]
Published in Fund Development, Research on October 30, 2020
Tags: ALS, ALS Canada Research Program, ALS research, funding als research, fundraising, research, research community, research funding, Virtual Research Forum
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 […]
Published in Research on April 21, 2020
Tags: ALS Canada Research Program, ALS research, funding als research, research
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 […]
Published in Research on January 23, 2020
Tags: als canada research, ALS Canada Research Program, ALS research, ALS research and funding, als-research-profile, funding als research, research community, women in science
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 […]
Published in Research on October 30, 2019
Tags: ALS Canada Research Program, ALS research, finding a cure for als, funding als research, genetic research, motor neuron disease, research, research community, Research update
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 […]
Published in Stories, Walk To End ALS on October 9, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, community engagement, funding als research, fundraising, Get Involved, living with ALS, walk to end als
The Walk to End ALS events that take place across the province, throughout the year, mean different things to different people, but there is a common thread of support, community and knowing you’re not alone on this journey. James Young, a 42-year-old father of two young boys, considers himself one of the lucky ones. Diagnosed […]
Published in Stories, Walk To End ALS on September 3, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, ALS, ALS awareness, als stories, Every August Until A Cure, funding als research, living with ALS, walk to end als
Until he was diagnosed with ALS in 2016, Alan Medcalf spent his adult life “in love with movement.” He was a snowboarder, cross-country skier, unicyclist, cyclist and competed as a runner, swimmer and triathlete. After a second hip replacement he cycled coast to coast across Canada in 2000 and logged over 100,000 km in the […]
Published in Research, Stories on August 15, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, ALS Canada Research Program, ALS research, als stories, Donate to ALS, Every August, Every August Until A Cure, find a cure for ALS, funding als research, fundraising, Ice Bucket Challenge, living with ALS, motor neuron disease
Margot Algie heard about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014 through friends and had no idea that only one year later, she would be diagnosed with the disease. Since then, she has come to understand firsthand the importance of maintaining the momentum of the viral social media phenomenon that resulted in a $21.5M investment […]
Published in Fund Development on August 12, 2019
Tags: community engagement, Donate to ALS, donating to ALS, finding a cure for als, funding als research, fundraising, Get Involved, How to donate to ALS research, research funding
In late 2018, Facebook began offering the option for Canadians to create fundraisers for nonprofit organizations or for personal causes. Since then many of you have reached out to us with questions about how these giving options can be used to support ALS Canada. We know Facebook can be a quick and easy way to […]
Published in Research, Stories on August 9, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, ALS Canada Research Program, als cure, ALS research, Donate to ALS, Every August, find a cure for ALS, funding als research, fundraising, genetic research, motor neuron disease, research, women in science
“When you start researching ALS, it becomes a life mission,” says Dr. Janice Robertson, a prominent figure in the ALS research community in Canada and abroad. Dr. Robertson is studying variations within the brain and spinal cord of people living with ALS using two powerful new technologies that allow researchers to examine the nuclei of […]
Published in Advocacy, Fund Development, Stories on July 26, 2019
Tags: ALS, ALS awareness, community, community engagement, Donate to ALS, donating to ALS, finding a cure for als, funding als research, fundraising, giving
Last spring, Mike Leech, 59, approached his plant manager to request a 2-month leave from work to complete a bike ride across Canada for charity. An avid cyclist, he dreamed of cycling coast to coast but he wanted to make it more than just a physical challenge. He wanted to raise awareness and money for […]
Published in Advocacy on June 25, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, ALS awareness, ALS Awareness Month, als stories, finding a cure for als, funding als research, fundraising
Miles4Matty is part of Adam Foley’s search for meaning after losing his brother, Matthew (aka Matty), who passed of ALS in 2014 at the age of 38. Adam and Matthew were roommates at the time of the diagnosis. When Matthew’s mobility became a significant challenge, they moved into a more accessible apartment together where Adam […]
Published in Events, Walk To End ALS on June 20, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, advocacy, ALS, ALS awareness, ALS Awareness Month, community, families with ALS, funding als research
Karen Van Luven, 53, and her mom, 84, both get around their apartment using walkers. Karen moved in to her mom’s apartment nine years ago to be her caregiver. Her mom was experiencing mobility issues and could no longer walk without assistance. “Now that I am living with ALS, the roles are a bit reversed,” […]
Published in Events, Walk To End ALS on June 18, 2019
Tags: ALS researching, find a cure for ALS, finding a cure for als, funding als research, how to live with als, living with ALS, motor neuron disease
Lise Michaud’s brother, Eddy Lefrançois, made every day count. He lived nearly three decades with ALS, proudly defying the odds and outliving his “expiry date” (EXP: 04.97) which he tattooed on the inside of his forearm as a reminder to live with passion and purpose. Eddy’s personal motto – “Let’s Roll” – always kept him […]
Published in Events, Walk To End ALS on June 3, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, ALS funding, ALS research, ALS research and funding, canadian ALS research, find a cure for ALS, finding a cure for als, funding als research
Brian Bower has always been passionate about sports. Above all, he is an ardent fisherman, known on occasion to snatch 15 minutes from his day for the joy of casting a line in one of the abundant waterways in and around Welland, where he lives. Brian also loves soccer, tennis, lacrosse, hockey and baseball. An […]
Published in Events, Walk To End ALS on May 29, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, als canada, als ontario, ALS research, als support, clinical trials als, end als, finding a cure for als, funding als, funding als research, funding als trials, funding research for als, researching als, the walk to end als, walk to end als
Talking about his dad’s ALS diagnosis, Connor Stratton, 17, says, “It’s a hard thing to understand at times, but it’s good to try to look at the bright side because my dad still has his spirits up. He’s still happy around us, and that’s something that reflects on all of us.” Kerry Stratton, a well-known […]
Published in Events, Walk To End ALS on May 29, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, als canada, als clinical trials, als ontario support, ALS research, als support, clinical trials als, end als, finding a cure for als, funding als, funding als research, funding als trials, support als ontario, the walk to end als, walk to end als
Since receiving his ALS diagnosis in February 2018, Mark Ianniello’s life has changed in profound ways. He is a 49-year-old father to three teenagers and can no longer work to help support his family. ALS has affected his speech and his mobility. Mark admits to having ups and downs. Despite the challenges, he says ALS […]