Title: The NEALS Consortium: Thirty Years of Advancing Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Research through Collaboration and Innovation
Background
The NEALS Consortium, founded in 1995, marks 30 years of progress in 2025. Established as a regional initiative, NEALS has expanded into a global leader in advancing clinical research for ALS. With 157 trial-ready ALS clinical research centers, including 12 international sites, NEALS has been a consistent driver of innovation in ALS care, clinical trials, and research education.
Objectives
NEALS strives to accelerate ALS clinical trials by fostering collaboration among academic researchers, industry partners, and individuals living with ALS to advance ALS research and improve patient outcomes.
Methods
NEALS’ Leadership Team and Science Advisory Board provide strategic guidance and oversight for clinical and pre-clinical projects. The Consortium’s expansive network of trial-ready sites has robust experience designing and managing ALS clinical studies and is instrumental in conducting rigorous ALS studies and advancing clinical research. NEALS complements its research efforts with a centralized repository of biological samples available to researchers, furthering the understanding of disease mechanisms and biomarker development.
NEALS promotes collaboration and essential education through its Annual Meeting, monthly community webinars, specialized training programs to standardize research methodologies, and the ALS Clinical Research Learning Institute.
Results
Over the past three decades, NEALS has driven significant advancements in ALS research, contributing to the development of new therapies and improved care practices.
Key milestones include:
•Developed outcome measurements training
•Implemented training initiatives for thousands of researchers
•Collaborated among ALS stakeholders through clinical design workshops
•Contributed to over 80 clinical studies
•Hosted 29 member and 167 community webinars
•Hosted 32 ALS CRLIs and trained over 600 ALS Research Ambassadors
•Held 23 Annual Meetings now with over 1,000 attendees
Discussion & Conclusion
NEALS has established a legacy of collaboration, education, and inclusivity in ALS research. By leveraging its network’s collective expertise, the Consortium advances ALS understanding and therapies. Its commitment to partnerships, patient-focused approaches, and community engagement continues to offer hope and drive progress for ALS