Scientific Workshops and Symposia

The ALS Association's goal is to encourage aggressive new research that explores the origins, progression and treatment of ALS. Among its efforts to generate new research ideas, and in particular, stimulate research applications from investigators new to ALS, ALSA holds scientific workshops, usually twice a year, bringing together ALS researchers and non-ALS investigators renowned in their respective specialties to explore specific ALS-relevant topics. Workshop topics have included "free radicals and programmed cell death," "the biology of motor neurons," "glutamate toxicity and its role in ALS," "new technologies and ALS research," and "environmental factors and genetic susceptibility."

The Association also partners with other scientific and voluntary organizations to host symposia on neurodegenerative diseases where mechanisms of the diseases may be similar and offer clues to understanding ALS.

Recent Workshops:


Young Investigators Workshop
Finding New Genes Linked to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis




ALS Research Overview
Read ALSA's White Paper on the State of ALS Research.
Meet ALSA's Science
Director & VP
Read the interview with ALSA's Science Director Lucie Bruijn, PhD.
ALSOD Database
Visit the online database for ALS/SOD1 genetic mutations at http://www.alsod.org/