Research Matters.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that is closely related to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s. In ALS, as motor neurons die, a person progressively loses the ability to walk, speak, swallow, and breathe.
Project ALS is working to develop the first effective treatments.
Finding Cures at the Core
The Project ALS Therapeutics Core (the Core) is the world’s first and only partnership between a world-class academic institution and a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to a full-spectrum approach to ALS drug development. Our goal is to develop the first effective treatments, and ultimately, a cure for ALS.
The Core provides an immensely exciting opportunity to capitalize on decades of ALS advances and translate them into meaningful treatments now.
Neil Shneider, MD, PhD, Director of the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center at Columbia Tweet
Closing in On A Cure
Since 1998, Project ALS has led research across the fields of stem cell biology, genetics, drug screening, and clinical trials at over 30 leading academic institutions.
News from the Core
25 Years of Research Progress
Want to learn more about Project ALS research? Catch up on episodes of Project ALS Research Live where we talk to special guests about critical ALS research.
4/24/2023
Our First Family
Mickey McGrath was a beloved husband, father, and doctor. Following his ALS diagnosis, Mickey and his family rallied their community in support of Project ALS research. Erin and Valerie speak with Mickey’s daughters, Nicole and Melissa, about their father’s life with ALS and how their community has continued to champion Project ALS in honor of their dad for more than 20 years.
3/28/2023
Sea Of Plenty
Erin and Valerie are joined by pre-eminent ALS geneticist and a founding Project ALS Research Advisory Board member, Robert H. Brown Jr., DPhil, MD, to talk about when Project ALS met Dr. Brown, and his wise words that encouraged Project ALS cofounders to relentlessly work towards better treatments for ALS.
2/23/2023
The Learning Curve
Erin and Valerie are joined by Alexandra Cavaliere and Gwen Petersen of Her ALS Story to discuss some difficult, but necessary, topics, including the road to an ALS diagnosis, participating in clinical trials, and what the future of ALS research looks like.
1/26/2023
The Beginning Years
Leading neurologist and neuroscientist, Dr. Jeffrey Rothstein, diagnosed Project ALS founder Jenifer Estess at the age of 35. He then became a founding crusader for collaborative Project ALS research. Dr. Jeffrey Rothstein and Project ALS president Meredith Estess join Valerie Estess and Erin Fleming for an intimate discussion about the beginning years of Project ALS, why it was created, and what we’re doing now.
Core Leadership
Scientific Codirectors
Serge Przedborski, MD, PhD
Neil Shneider, MD, PhD
Hynek Wichterle, PhD
Director of Operations
Emily Lowry, PhD
Unit Directors
Jinsy Andrews, MD, MSc
Estela Area Gomez, PhD
Susan Brenner Morton
Francesco Lotti, PhD
Emily Lowry, PhD
George Z. Mentis, PhD
Director of Research
Valerie Estess
Associate Director of Research Operations
Margot Shanahan
Research Consultant
Erin Fleming