Amanda Peltier, MD, talks about ALS research and treatment at Vanderbilt Health. (submitted photo)
The Tennessee General Assembly has approved $11 million in public funding that will support research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rare but devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects roughly 2-3 in every 100,000 people. This funding will benefit the Vanderbilt ALS Research Center, part of the Neuromuscular Division of the Department of Neurology at Vanderbilt Health.
“We’re grateful to legislators in Tennessee who saw the need for continued ALS research,” said Véronique Belzil, PhD, MS, Associate Professor of Neurology and Director of the Vanderbilt ALS Research Center. “Our center is committed to leveraging these funds to build a better future for ALS patients in our state.
“This disease is debilitating and fatal for patients and brings tragedy to families who have a loved one fighting ALS. The work toward a cure is critical for those in Tennessee who are suffering, as well as the tens of thousands of individuals around the globe affected by this disease.”
Per the ALS Association, this round of funding builds on $3.7 million the state had previously committed via funding partnerships with Live Like Lou and the ALS Association. The Vanderbilt Health ALS Clinic is also an ALS Association Certified Treatment Center of Excellence working in close collaboration with the Vanderbilt ALS Research Center. Recognition as a Center of Excellence indicates a center represents the gold standard for ALS care and is awarded to clinics that undergo rigorous review and deliver coordinated, multidisciplinary care proven to extend survival and improve quality of life.
Belzil said anyone can make a difference in ALS research: Control participants, or healthy individuals enrolled in studies, can help researchers understand what “normal” looks like by providing baseline data to compare healthy patients with those suffering from ALS and identify meaningful differences that can lead to breakthroughs in treatment.
“It’s essential we get buy-in from all facets of our community: In addition to securing this funding for our research, we must also capitalize on our forward momentum and involve those who are interested in helping us create a healthier future for ALS patients in our research,” said Belzil, who holds the Neurology Research Directorship at Vanderbilt Health.
