Western University has received a $2.5-million boost to continue its research into Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
The massive donation from the Temerty Foundation was announced Thursday. The money will be used to implement a three-year study aimed at developing treatment models and therapeutic trials for ALS patients around the world. The study will be led by international award-winning ALS researcher and Western medical school professor Dr. Michael Strong.
“We have made major advances in our understanding of ALS and reached a point in our research that heralds a new era in the development of a specific treatment,” said Strong. “The future of this type of work is dependent on support and generosity like that of the Temerty Foundation. This gift enables us to continue moving forward, hopefully to the great benefit of society.”
Strong's team includes researchers from across Canada, the U.S., and Italy. Their focus will be on the role of specific proteins in helping to stop the degeneration of individual motor neurons, which are responsible for driving the function of muscle.
It is possible their work could lead to enhanced clinical practice guidelines that improve patient care worldwide, according to a statement from Western University.
ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, sees the brain's ability to communicate with the body's muscles gradually stop. This leads to paralysis and death as someone living with ALS will lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, swallow, and eventually breathe. The average life expectancy is three to five years. Presently, there is no cure for ALS and few treatment options.
The money announced Thursday is on top of a $5-million donation by the Temerty Foundation made in 2014.
“We have always looked for opportunities to make a difference by supporting the best research at the best institutions,” said Jim Temerty, founder and chairman of Northland Power Inc. “We’re thrilled to invest in Western’s outstanding ALS research and to foster international collaboration to further strengthen the team.”
