August 12, 2011

The Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) in conjunction with The ALS Association is working to build a new, centralized resource for information about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) clinical research.  As part of this initiative an ALS trial expert will be immediately available to answer questions and help people navigate through the clinical research information during regular business hours, eastern standard time.

A long-standing collaboration between NEALS and The ALS Association through the Translational Research Advancing Therapy for ALS (TREAT ALS) program has built a comprehensive infrastructure to improve clinical trial efficiencies.  The availability and accuracy of clinical research information is crucial to the development of potential treatments for ALS.

“The ALS Association is very pleased to provide funding for this resource and looks forward to working with NEALS and the clinical community to make information on all the important clinical trials more accessible to people with ALS,” commented ALS Association Chief Scientist Lucie Bruijn, Ph.D.

With the support of The ALS Association, NEALS will lead a coordinated effort to support people with ALS who wish to enroll in clinical trials.  This effort will include:

•The dissemination of comprehensive, up-to-date information about ALS trials to the ALS community,
•Coordinated, searchable online material about clinical research options,
•Frequent updates and news about research, including informational webinars, and
•Access to a live contact to answer questions about clinical trials and help people with ALS navigate the world clinical research.

The leadership at NEALS and The ALS Association recognize the need to provide comprehensive clinical research information to the ALS community.  An ALS clinical trial expert can be reached at (877) 458-0631 Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. eastern standard time and by e-mail at alstrials@partners.org.