Bringing ALS care and trial opportunities to more people nationwide
Access for All in ALS (ALL ALS) East Clinical Coordinating Center
This project will build a national network of ALS centers and track over 2,000 people with ALS plus 500 high‑risk gene carriers to collect clinical information and biological samples that could speed better care and treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11381359 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll become part of a network of about 30 ALS centers led by Massachusetts General Hospital and partner sites that share data and samples. Over 2,000 people living with ALS and 500 people who carry ALS gene mutations but have no symptoms will be enrolled and seen regularly over time. Staff will collect medical information, blood and other biospecimens, and imaging or other measures to look for biomarkers and patterns that could help diagnose disease earlier or match patients to trials. The project will also create coordinated data systems and biobanks to make it easier for future clinical trials and for centers in different regions to work together.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults diagnosed with ALS and adults who carry known ALS-causing gene mutations (asymptomatic gene carriers) who can attend one of the participating U.S. centers.
Not a fit: People without ALS and without known ALS gene mutations, or those unable to travel to a participating site, are unlikely to benefit directly from joining.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this effort could speed development of better tests and treatments, improve access to clinical trials, and help tailor care for people with ALS.
How similar studies have performed: Previous multi-site ALS cohorts and biobanks have produced useful biomarker and natural-history data, but the scale and coordinated national network planned here are larger and more comprehensive than most prior efforts.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Berry, James Dale — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Berry, James Dale
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.