ALS Society of Canada

You won’t want to miss any of our 4-part blog series on ALS Canada’s impact goals. Our next topic is advocacy 📢 From local efforts to national campaigns, we advocate for equitable, timely, and affordable access to therapies and improved home and community care. Learn why advocacy is so important to our community. Read more: https://bit.ly/3YFt7MB. #UnitedInALS #aWorldFreeOfALS

Previous imaging studies have revealed changes in specific brain regions among people living with ALS. However, the extent and location of these differ from person to person. This has led researchers to question whether the variability in brain atrophy patterns is linked to the diversity in symptoms often observed in people with ALS. If such a link exists, measuring these brain changes could provide a non-invasive way to monitor disease progression more accurately and possibly even predict future clinical symptoms and survival outcomes. As one of the eight recipients of the 2023 ALS Canada-Brain Canada Discovery Grants, Dr. Mahsa Dadar is evaluating the utility of structural brain MRI as an ALS biomarker. To read more about her research, visit https://bit.ly/3ZQpNQL.

Certaines études d'imagerie précédentes ont révélé des changements dans des régions spécifiques du cerveau chez les personnes atteintes de SLA. Cependant, la portée et la localisation de ces changements diffèrent d'une personne à autre. Cela a conduit les chercheurs à se demander si la variabilité des schémas d'atrophie cérébrale est liée à la diversité des symptômes souvent observés chez les personnes atteintes de SLA. Si ce lien existe, la mesure de ces changements cérébraux pourrait constituer un moyen non invasif de suivre plus précisément la progression de la maladie et peut-être même de prédire les futurs symptômes cliniques et les taux de survie. La Dre Mahsa Dadar, l'une des huit lauréats des bourses de découverte 2023 de la Société canadienne de la SLA et Brain Canada, évalue l'utilité de l'IRM cérébrale structurelle en tant que biomarqueur de la SLA. Visitez https://bit.ly/3ZQpNQL pour en savoir plus sur sa recherche.

🎉 It’s time to celebrate! Through challenging physical and mental strength at the 2024 ALS Canada #PullToEndALS, you helped raise $220,000 and counting. A united team for change, the Pull to End ALS exemplifies the power of community and showcases the feats we achieve when we come together. Thank you to all participants, supporters, and volunteers – your commitment helps move us closer to #aWorldFreeOfALS. We can’t wait to see the energy you bring next year!

Can boosting a vital protein in the brain help to slow the progression of ALS? Powered by the 2023 ALS Canada-Brain Canada Discovery Grant, Dr. Jean-Pierre Julien and collaborators explore the extent to which lower neurofilament light levels, associated with dysfunction in an ALS-linked protein called TDP-43, contribute to ALS. The outcomes of this study will advance our understanding of disease mechanisms associated with TDP-43 dysfunction and, if successful, may lay the foundation for future ALS treatment options. To read more about his research, visit https://bit.ly/3zI5wSQ.

Est-ce que la stimulation d'une protéine vitale dans le cerveau peut aider à ralentir la progression de la SLA? Appuyés par la bourse de découverte 2023 de la Société canadienne de la SLA et de Brain Canada, le Dr Jean-Pierre et ses collaborateurs étudient dans quelle mesure des niveaux inférieurs de neurofilaments, associés à un dysfonctionnement d'une protéine liée à la SLA, appelée TDP-43, contribuent à la SLA. Les résultats de cette étude permettront de mieux comprendre les mécanismes de la maladie associés au dysfonctionnement de la TDP-43 et, en cas de succès, de jeter les bases de futures options thérapeutiques pour la SLA. Visitez https://bit.ly/3zI5wSQ pour en savoir plus sur sa recherche.

🔎 Curious to know what you’ll gain as a participant of the ALS Canada Canadian ALS Learning Institute (CALI)? To learn more and apply to be a part of the 2025 CALI, visit https://bit.ly/40k9tIu. The deadline to apply is Monday, November 18. There are limited spots available.

Get ready to lace up your skates! The ALS Canada Buck-A-Puck for ALS is back. 🏒 For every dollar raised, players take a shot on net — during a game, in your driveway, or on the rink with friends. This hockey season, rally with your community to help raise awareness of #ALS and raise funds for Canada’s most promising ALS research. Register, fundraise, or donate to #BuckAPuckforALS today; visit https://bit.ly/3NRUyNW. (P.S. Register your team by December 16, 2024, and you'll be entered into a draw for an exclusive early bird prize!)

We’re #hiring! ALS Canada is currently accepting applications for two positions. Know anyone who might be interested? The Coordinator, Donor Services, coordinates key annual giving portfolios, including direct mail, online giving, monthly giving, tribute, memorial giving and events. The Senior Manager, Fund Development, Major Gifts, is responsible for revenue generation and execution of the organization’s major giving strategy, primarily with respect to individuals, foundations, corporate giving, cause marketing, and partnerships. For more information and to apply, visit https://bit.ly/3wChoo3.

Aided by her 2023 ALS Canada-Brain Canada Doctoral Award, PhD student Liane Phung explores the link between hyperexcitability in ALS and various clinical and neuroimaging parameters, in addition to a fluid-based biomarker. Excitability circuits of the brain will be assessed using threshold-tracking transcranial magnetic stimulation (TT-TMS) – this research could help to validate TT-TMS as a method to detect non-invasive biomarkers for ALS, aiding in diagnosis and potentially lead to more personalized treatment options in the future. To read more about her research, visit https://bit.ly/4dwWCph.