Acknowledgements & Appreciation
The NEALS story is one of shared purpose – and shared progress.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Merit Cudkowicz and Dr. Jeremy Shefner, the visionaries who founded NEALS in 1995, and to every Co-Chair, leadership member, and staff member who has helped guide the NEALS Network over the past three decades. Your dedication, leadership, and persistence laid the foundation for everything NEALS has become. We also acknowledge current and former Executive Committee and Scientific Advisory Board Co-Chairs who have dedicated their time to lead the organization including Dr. Jinsy Andrews, Dr. James Berry, Dr. Jonathan Glass, Dr. Nicholas Maragakis, Dr. Terry Heiman- Patterson, Dr. Timothy Miller, Dr. Jeffrey Rothstein, and Dr. Robert Brown. Additionally, we recognize Dr. Richard Bedlack for his leadership of the ALS Clinical Research Learning Institute® (CRLI) and his enduring contributions to advancing patient-centered research and education within NEALS. To the people living with ALS, including those who have passed, and every family member and caregiver who has participated in clinical trials: thank you. Your courage fuels this work, and your insights have shaped how research is designed, implemented, and shared. We are especially grateful to the PALS/CALS Advisors to the NEALS Executive Committee (Allison Bulat, the late Layne Oliff, Michael Robinson, and David Shulman), ALS Research Ambassadors® and the NEALS Patient and Caregiver Advisory Committee members who have brought wisdom, lived experience, and leadership into every level of our work.
To our member academic sites – your commitment to clinical excellence, collaboration, and compassionate care is the engine behind this network.
To our foundation partners, academic collaborators, and industry sponsors – your support has helped make many of NEALS’ most ambitious initiatives possible. We are especially proud to recognize long-standing partners such as the ALS Association and ALS Hope Foundation, whose sustained commitment to innovation, equity, and access continues to shape the future of ALS clinical research.
Together, we are building not just a research network – but a collaborative community grounded in generosity,
We are also deeply grateful to the anonymous donor whose extraordinary $1 million endowment gift will sustain the ALS Clinical Research Learning Institute® (CRLI) for years to come – ensuring that people living with ALS and caregivers remain at the center of research design, education, and advocacy. Philanthropic support has powered many of NEALS’ most transformative efforts, from early-phase trials and expanded access programs to the infrastructure and training that make patient-centered research possible.
connection, and shared resolve.
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