Clinical research is the only way to turn promising science into treatments for people. Learn more about the role of clinical research in the development of new treatments for people with motor neuron disease and how you can get involved.
What is clinical research?
Clinical research, also referred to as clinical trials, is research that occurs in human subjects. Almost all clinical research is regulated by the Food & Drug Agency to ensure that research is conducted in both a safe and ethical manner.
Why is clinical research so important to finding a cure?
People with ALS or motor neuron disease who enroll in a clinical trial are contributing to improved health care for everyone with the disease. Even when the results of a trial are negative, we learn that much more about the disease as well as how to look for more promising new treatments.
Learn more about clinical research
Research Opportunities:
Clinical research in ALS
Today people with ALS have many opportunities to participate in the clinical research, both interventional and observational. Use our search for a trial feature to find a trial that fits you.
Clinical research in other motor neuron disease
Currently, there are no interventional trials in primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). However, there are ongoing observational studies that people can participate in to help advance knowledge of these rare diseases. Observational work will help to develop PLS and HSP interventional trials in the future.
• Multicenter PLS Cohort Study of Oxidative Stress and Disease Progression
• Collection of Blood Samples for DNA Analysis in Motor Neuron Disease
• Screening and Natural History: PLS and Related Disorders
• Family Studies in Neuromuscular Disorders
Healthy volunteers
There are many ways that family members, loved-ones, and caregivers can help the effort. Some studies need healthy volunteers to participate. Use our search for a trial feature to find studies for which you might qualify.
Tissue Donation
Postmortem tissue, specifically brain and spinal cord tissue, can be used to study ALS. It can be a difficult decision for some people to donate upon their death. However, many find it gives them a sense of purpose in knowing that their donation will further ALS research.
Thank you to the ALS Association for this list of facilities accepting brain and spinal cord tissue.
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