2020

An Unprecedented Year

2019

Always Pushing Forward

2018

First of Our Kind

• ALS TDI becomes the first nonprofit biotech in any disease to discover and develop a potential treatment, tegoprubart, bringing it from our labs, through FDA review, and into clinical trial.

• ALS TDI partners with Google to leverage their expertise in artificial intelligence to analyze the “big data” collected from our Precision Medicine Program, making significant strides towards the development of unbiased, quantitative, and sensitive measures of ALS disease progression.
• In collaboration with Neurimmune, ALS TDI publishes a paper supporting the further development of α-miSOD1 antibody as a candidate treatment for forms of ALS involving misfolding of SOD1.
• In collaboration with Virginia Tech, ALS TDI publishes a paper on findings demonstrating that sensory neurons are directly affected by two ALS-inducing factors, suggesting important roles for this neuronal subpopulation in ALS-related pathogenesis.
• Dr. Fernando Vieira becomes Chief Scientific Officer at ALS TDI in August 2018.

2017

Heating Up ALS Research

• ALS TDI co-hosts the 2017 International ALS Symposium with the ALS Hope Foundation in December 2017 in Boston.

• ALS TDI publishes a paper validating the efficacy of Copper ATSM (CuATSM) at slowing down ALS disease progression in the SOD1 mouse model.
• The #ALSPepperChallenge is started by the Haberstroh Family in honor of Patty Haberstroh.

2016

Uniting for the Fight

• ALS TDI enters into a new research partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School and the University of Massachusetts Medical School as part of “ALS ONE”, with the goal of identifying a treatment for ALS by 2020.

• ALS TDI announces a new research collaboration with Denali Therapeutics to investigate potential new endpoints for use in ALS clinical trials. ALS TDI and Denali will evaluate and analyze data sets collected through ALS TDI's first-of-its kind Precision Medicine Program.
• By July 2016, 300 people are enrolled in the Precision Medicine Program, 5326 accelerometer datasets and 472 DNA fingerprints are captured, 268 fibroblast lines are created, 12 iPSc lines are created, and 248 genomes are sequenced. Findings from the first enrollment cohort signal the opportunity to identify potential new clinical trial endpoints. The Institutional Review Board (IRB), responsible for the Precision Medicine Program, approve the expansion of enrollment to an additional 450 people with ALS.

2015

Leading By Example

2014

Ice Buckets Make Waves

• The Ice Bucket Challenge, created and promoted by ALS TDI supporters Pete Frates, Pat Quinn, and Anthony Carbajal, goes viral and raises $4 million for ALS TDI.

• ALS TDI announces that $3 million of Ice Bucket Challenge funding will be spent on clinical stage programs targeting CD40L (via Anelixis Therapeutics) and misfolded SOD1 (via Neurimmune).
• The Precision Medicine Program enrolls its first 20 people with ALS and increases enrollment to 300, thanks to funds raised in the Ice Bucket Challenge.
• ALS TDI publishes a paper examining the emerging disease phenotype of a transgenic mouse model that overexpresses a mutant human TDP-43 (hTDP-43) gene under mouse prion promoter control.
• ALS TDI publishes a paper revealing that dexpramipexole is ineffective in two models of ALS-related neurodegeneration.
• Augie's Quest joins forces with ALS TDI, bringing new leadership, experience, and funding to the cause.

2013

The Telemedicine Era Begins

• ALS TDI enters into collaborations with three biotech companies on several different potential treatments for ALS: to-BBB (Netherlands), Anido Pharma (USA), and Neurimmune SA (Switzerland).

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the Phase 2A clinical trial of TDI-132 in ALS patients and enrollment begins in four states (Massachusetts, Georgia, California, and Texas).
• ALS TDI launches the first ALS-focused Precision Medicine Program, partnering with people with ALS to share and gather data on medical and family histories, genetics, biomarkers, and patient cell biology in order to better understand ALS.
• ALS TDI creates Anelixis Therapeutics as a subsidiary to help advance potential treatments for ALS by pursuing partnerships with private investors.

2012

Moving On Up

• ALS TDI moves to a larger, more modern facility in Cambridge's Kendall Square. The 26,000 square foot lab space allows ALS TDI to hire more scientists, take on larger projects, and accelerate drug development.

• ALS TDI enters into drug development collaborations with Regenesance (Netherlands) Neurotune (Switzerland) and a technology development collaboration with the Gladstone Institutes (USA).
• ALS TDI announces its intent to fund and conduct a clinical research program on TDI-132.

2011

Pursuing Clinical Trials

2010

Gene Titan Joins the Lab

• ALS TDI and Aestus Therapeutics initiate a collaboration on potential treatments for ALS.

• A brand new GeneTitan, named “Corey” after YFALS Ambassador Corey Reich, is installed in the genomics center at ALS TDI.
• ALS TDI publishes a paper in Nature Genetics regarding the discovery of potential therapeutic ALS TDI 00846.
• Augie's Quest, then associated with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, provides more than $2.5 million in support to ALS TDI.
• The US Department of Defense awards a $1.6 million grant to ALS TDI to study and develop potential treatments for ALS.

2009

Coining our Call to Action

• ALS TDI collaborates with Asklepios on the development of novel adeno-associated viral vectors to be used in drug development research.

• Applied Proteomics becomes a strategic partner in ALS TDI's effort to characterize protein expression changes associated with disease onset and progression.
• Sean Scott, president of ALS TDI, passes away from ALS on February 6th, 2009. His picture is placed in the lab and work continues on in his memory.
• ALS TDI publishes a paper on study results which show no potential benefits of chronic lithium dosing in G93A-SOD1 mouse model of ALS.
• Board Member Stanley Appel, M.D., coins the phrase "ALS is not an incurable disease, it is an underfunded one" in a congressional hearing regarding ALS therapeutic development.
• Steve Perrin, Ph.D., is named Chief Executive Officer of ALS TDI, building on his significant progress made as chief scientific officer.

2008

Tri-State Trek Hits $1 Million

• ALS TDI partners with the Allen Institute for Brain Science and begins a massive in situ hybridization experiment.

• ALS TDI partners with 6 clinics to collect blood and tissue samples from ALS patients for cross-referencing against gene expression pathways identified in the SOD1 database.
• ALS TDI collaborates with California Stem Cell. Work suggest that stem cells can engraft and survive in spinal cord of SOD1 mice. Groups extend collaboration work to develop cell-based drug delivery tools to treat ALS.
• ALS TDI's science team grows to include more than 30 full-time professional researchers.
• ALS TDI publishes a paper detailing guidelines for researchers using the G93A-SOD1 mouse model of ALS. Based on this work, Prize4Life awards a $1 million biomarker and therapeutic prize to ALS TDI.
• ALS TDI's signature event, the 270-mile Tri-State Trek, surpasses $1 million in total fundraising.
• US Department of Defense makes a $1.1 million grant to ALS TDI for ALS research.
• RGK Foundation makes $1 million, two-year grant to ALS TDI.
• Friends for Faye Fund, one of the first family funds started at ALS TDI, reaches $1 million in total fundraising.

2007

From Foundation to Institute

2006

Committed to the Cure

• The In Vitro Validation Team is organized at ALS TDF. Their primary charge is to validate the activity of small molecule, protein biologics, and gene therapy products prior to advancing them into full in-vivo (animal) testing for efficacy.

• So Much So Fast, a critically-acclaimed documentary about the Heywood family and ALS TDF, premiers at the Sundance Film Festival.
• After eight years living with ALS, Stephen Heywood passes away on November 26th, 2006. He remains the inspiration and motivating force behind ALS TDF to this day.
• Sean Scott is named President of ALS TDF.
• Augie Nieto becomes Chairman of the Board at ALS TDF. Augie, a fitness mogul diagnosed with ALS in 2005, commits to raising $18 million in three years for ALS research at ALS TDF.

2005

Leveling Up in the Lab

• ALS TDF becomes the largest nonprofit research and development (R&D) program exclusively focused on ALS.

• A Biosafety Level 2 Lab is constructed at ALS TDF allowing for further expansion of gene therapy and cell-based treatment pipelines.
• ALS TDF purchases a powerful Zeiess X1 microscope and builds up its molecular imaging capabilities, with funding from the Jeff Hadley Fund.
• The Mass Spectrometry Core created to monitor drug levels attained in any tissue type.
• The Passion for Life Fund, inspired by a person with ALS, Mary Lou Krauseneck, reaches its $1 million fundraising milestone.

2004

Express Yourself - Gene Expression Core

• The Gene Expression Core is launched at ALS TDF after the purchase of a Taqman, a high-end device capable of measuring gene expressions and aiding in the search for disease biomarkers.

• ALS TDF moves to a new location, a 16,000 square foot lab and office space in the Cambridge biotech hub, Kendall Square.
• Scientists at ALS TDF innovate a novel device known as an intrathecal catheter, which delivers potential therapeutics directly to the spinal cord of the mouse.
• ALS TDF hires industry trained drug discovery experts, establishing a dedicated Discovery Biology Core.

2003

Advanced Efficacy Screening

2002

On the Move

• ALS TDF moves across the Charles River into a larger research facility located in the Harvard Partners building.

• ALS TDF establishes four external research collaborations with academics and more than 25 partnerships with biotechs and pharmaceutical companies.
• The lab tests 28 potential treatments in the SOD1 mouse model.
• An anonymous donor provides a $300,000 grant funding the development of a new bioinformatics systems at ALS TDF.
• Alex and Brit d'Arbeloff make a $1,000,000 donation to ALS TDF.

2001

First Lab Opened

• ALS TDF opens its first lab inside the New England Medical Center. New funding allows the lab to move to a larger space at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy by the end of the year.

• ALS TDF's Founder and Chief Executive Officer, James Allen Heywood, begins to hold "ALS 101" sessions for people with ALS with the goal of providing information and encouraging discussion about drug development.
• The lab tests 27 potential treatments in the SOD1 mouse model.
• ALS TDF receives approval to conduct the world's first stem cell trial for ALS. Stephen Heywood and two other people with ALS participate.
• The ALS Hope/Hobler Foundation makes a $500,000 gift to ALS TDF. ALS TDF renames its main drug-screening program the "ALS Hope Drug Discovery Center."

2000

Largest In-Vivo Screening Program

• ALS TDF establishes the world's largest in-vivo screening program, using mouse models to evaluate compound formulation and dosage.

• ALS TDF applies for a Phase 1 Stem Cell Transplant trial. If approved, it would be the first of its kind for ALS in the world.
• ALS TDF develops Neurobase to track drug leads and gather information to support research and development.
• The Heywood brothers and ALS TDF are featured in New Yorker magazine exposé, Curing the Incurable.