Target ALS

Target ALS Founded in 2013 by Dan Doctoroff, Target ALS is a medical research foundation whose mission is to acc

10/10/2025

Each step Alison Crawford takes in the 2025 TCS is powered by purpose.

A lifelong athlete and supporter of science, Alison is running her second marathon for Target ALS, combining her passion for fitness with her commitment to advancing research that can change the future of .

Last year, she proudly wore her Target ALS hat around her hometown of Cape Cod, where strangers shared their own stories of loss and gratitude. This year, she runs for them, for her friends and colleagues who have experienced the disease firsthand, and for her family, whose future she hopes will be free from diseases like ALS.

“Now is the time for all of us to stand strong and ensure that research continues for diseases such as ALS and many others,” she says.

We’re proud to have Alison on Team Target ALS, running for science, for community, and for a future where .

🏃‍♀️ Support Alison’s run: https://ow.ly/swJW50X9YPi

In Colombia, one family’s story is reshaping what we know about   and frontotemporal dementia ( ).At the center is Dr. J...
10/10/2025

In Colombia, one family’s story is reshaping what we know about and frontotemporal dementia ( ).

At the center is Dr. Juliana Acosta-Uribe, whose groundbreaking research is uncovering how a single mutation, a variant in the gene, can lead to drastically different outcomes. Within several large Colombian families carrying the variant, some members develop ALS, others FTD, and some remain unaffected even into their 80s. That mystery offers scientists a rare chance to explore what protects some individuals while others succumb, and to pinpoint new therapeutic targets along the way.

Her project reflects what Target ALS stands for: and . Working alongside Dr. Martha Peña’s team in Bogotá and the Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia in Medellín, this effort ensures that those living with ALS in and their unique genetic diversity are represented in global research through and the Target ALS Global Natural History Study ( ).

At Target ALS, we’re proud to fund this pioneering work. It is a testament to how science, community, and diversity together can unlock answers that benefit everyone.

🔗 Read the full story: https://ow.ly/yk7s50X9YHe

Ten years ago, when Dr. Clotilde Lagier-Tourenne first opened her lab at Mass General, her very first research grant cam...
10/08/2025

Ten years ago, when Dr. Clotilde Lagier-Tourenne first opened her lab at Mass General, her very first research grant came from Target ALS.

A decade later, she’s once again at the forefront, this time as part of a collaborative consortium tackling one of the greatest mysteries in : sporadic ALS, which accounts for 90% of all cases. Now joined by Drs. Chiu, Wainger, and Albers, her team is uncovering how neurons’ own immune pathways may drive ALS progression, opening the door to entirely new therapeutic possibilities.

This is Target ALS’s mission in action: catalyzing collaboration and accelerating discoveries that bring us closer to treatments.

🔗 Read the full story: https://ow.ly/ghat50X7weJ

HiFi Solves data is now live for  .  is a complex puzzle. Some cases are inherited, others sporadic, with answers hidden...
10/07/2025

HiFi Solves data is now live for .

is a complex puzzle. Some cases are inherited, others sporadic, with answers hidden in the hardest-to-read regions of the genome. Traditional short-read sequencing left us with fragments, like trying to solve a puzzle with thousands of pieces. Long-read sequencing allows us to see the big picture with fewer pieces, revealing clarity where there was once uncertainty.

As of today, Target ALS’s harmonized long-read sequencing dataset is part of the global HiFi Solves network and ready to be mined by researchers worldwide via the Target ALS Data Engine.

This means scientists can begin uncovering repeat expansions, structural variants, and epigenetic changes immediately, accelerating the timeline for discoveries from decades into just a few years.

This milestone connects ALS researchers to tens of thousands of genomes, opening the door to sharper insights, faster breakthroughs, and more hope for the ALS community.

🔗 Learn more about what this means for the future of ALS research: https://ow.ly/s7L950X7vOi

For neuroscientist and endurance athlete Sophie Imhof,   is more than a research focus; it’s her life’s mission. After n...
10/06/2025

For neuroscientist and endurance athlete Sophie Imhof, is more than a research focus; it’s her life’s mission. After nearly a decade studying ALS across Vienna, Stanford, and New York, Sophie has seen what once felt impossible become possible. “Ten years ago, I would have said treating ALS was impossible. Now, it’s not a matter of if we find treatments, but when,” she says.

Next March, Sophie will take on the Arizona Canyon Ultra. A race that consists of 55 kilometers (34.2 miles) of sand, heat, and canyon trails, running for those who no longer can. Alongside her work in the lab, Sophie is carrying ALS families with her every step of the way.

We are deeply grateful that Sophie has chosen to run for Target ALS and turn her miles into impact. You can help get her to the finish line by supporting her fundraising journey, which is fueling research that is already transforming what’s possible for those living with ALS and their families.

🔗 Read Sophie’s story and donate today: https://ow.ly/8ByG50X7lNh

10/03/2025

Target ALS is proud to be a charity partner of the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon!

Leading up to race day on November 2, we’ll be sharing stories from our incredible team of runners, each with their own deeply personal connection to ALS and commitment to accelerating research.

Meet Alex Shapos. Three weeks after Alex was born, his dad, Earl, was diagnosed with ALS. Earl passed away just a few years later at 45. Alex’s only memories of him are in a wheelchair, but he remembers his positivity, even at the end of his life.

Now, Alex is running for Team Target ALS to honor his dad’s memory and help ensure other families don’t have to endure the same loss.

Watch Alex share his story and join him in the fight to accelerate research and find effective treatments.

🏃‍♂️ Donate to Alex’s marathon fundraiser and support Target ALS: https://ow.ly/CmH250X6lw9

In 2010, Professor Premana Wardayanti Premadi, one of Indonesia’s most respected astronomers, was diagnosed with  . For ...
10/03/2025

In 2010, Professor Premana Wardayanti Premadi, one of Indonesia’s most respected astronomers, was diagnosed with . For someone used to exploring the universe’s deepest mysteries, the silence around ALS in her own country was deafening.

“When I Googled ALS in Indonesian, there was nothing,” she remembers. “No information, no resources, no community.” That silence became her spark. She started translating trusted medical information, sharing her own story, and slowly, families began to find her. With just six people in a room, the Indonesian ALS Foundation was born.

Today, that quiet beginning has grown into a national movement, training doctors, creating resources for families, and bringing ALS into the public conversation.

Premana’s message is as powerful as her work: “If you can use anything from me, even my body for research, I am ready.”

In this story, Premana shares how science, advocacy, and hope intersect and why she believes every community must have a seat at the table to change the future of ALS.

🔗 Read Premana’s story: https://www.targetals.org/2025/09/15/indonesia-als-advocacy/

We are unlocking   pathology like never before.For the first time in history, hundreds of ALS and   postmortem tissue sa...
10/02/2025

We are unlocking pathology like never before.

For the first time in history, hundreds of ALS and postmortem tissue samples have been uniformly stained for phosphorylated , a central hallmark of ALS, and digitized at scale.

Led by Dr. Brent Harris (Georgetown University) and Dr. Robert Bowser (Barrow Neurological Institute), with support from Target ALS and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, this effort transforms our 500-case postmortem tissue repository into a powerful open resource.

Each image is paired with rich metadata, including long-read sequencing and clinical history, creating the most comprehensive, publicly accessible ALS pathology dataset to date. Machine learning is already being applied to uncover new patterns and accelerate discovery, work that could redefine how the field studies .

As Dr. Bowser says, “Making these images freely available is about empowering the research community. This initiative is going to be very fruitful, not just for our labs, but for anyone looking to understand and treat ALS.”

This is the largest and first initiative of its kind in ALS, and it’s just the beginning.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/pbiv50X5P3b

When Patti Harris first met Dan Doctoroff in 2001, she saw someone unafraid of big ideas, a quality that would shape the...
10/01/2025

When Patti Harris first met Dan Doctoroff in 2001, she saw someone unafraid of big ideas, a quality that would shape their years working side by side at City Hall.

Today, as CEO of Bloomberg Philanthropies, Patti carries that same fearless spirit forward, championing bold collaborations and urgent action to create change on a global scale.
“It’s always been inspiring to work with Dan. He’s never been afraid of incredibly ambitious goals or the work needed to achieve them. No matter how long the odds, I’ve never seen him waver,” she reflects.

In this conversation, Patti shares what she’s learned from Dan, the founder of Target ALS, how philanthropy can be the spark that accelerates breakthroughs and why Target ALS is a natural partner in her mission to dismantle silos and move faster toward solutions.

Read the full story: https://www.targetals.org/2025/09/26/pattiharristargetals/

Photos courtesy of Bloomberg Philanthropies

Yesterday, Target ALS founder Dan Doctoroff was celebrated with the naming of a street in his honor. From creating Hudso...
09/30/2025

Yesterday, Target ALS founder Dan Doctoroff was celebrated with the naming of a street in his honor. From creating Hudson Yards to founding Target ALS, Dan has always led with vision, courage, and an unwavering belief in what’s possible. This tribute reflects the lasting impact he has made on the city and beyond.

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jyothi Rao, whose story we shared last week.Her courage in sharing her...
09/26/2025

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jyothi Rao, whose story we shared last week.

Her courage in sharing her journey with ALS, her call for greater awareness in India, and her belief that “I can’t be a researcher, but I can be a participant” continue to inspire us all.

Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones. Her voice will remain part of the collective push for a more inclusive and impactful future in ALS research and care.

Learn more about Jyothi’s hope for research and her vision for the future: https://ow.ly/cZj450X35rz

We’re going live today at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET for our Introduction to   webinar, hosted by Stephanie Ishoo, Target ALS’s M...
09/25/2025

We’re going live today at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET for our Introduction to webinar, hosted by Stephanie Ishoo, Target ALS’s Manager of Research Marketing & Communications.

Hear from Laura Dugom, MPH, Clinical Research Scientist at Target ALS, and Dr. Björn Oskarsson, MD, neurologist at Mayo Clinic, as they share how AGRI is closing critical gaps in ALS research by making samples and data available to scientists worldwide almost instantly.

🕑 Don’t miss it: https://ow.ly/t74z50X1eHB

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