ALS Therapy Development Institute

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At the ALS Therapy Development (ALS TDI), we like to say that our laboratory also belongs to the supporters and community members who make our research possible. We want all members of the community, whether or not you are able to physically visit us in Cambridge, to be able to tour your lab.

If you'd like to schedule a guided in-person or video lab tour, email development@als.net.

An All Encompassing Research Lab

Our lab encompasses all areas of ALS research and drug discovery, including preclinical, clinical, and translational research. Because our scientists work in their unique areas of research under one roof, we can more efficiently and effectively collaborate to find treatments faster.

The floor plan of the ALS TDI lab shown below contains images of some of our science team members and lab areas. Click on the scientists and the different areas to learn more about our research to end ALS.

ALS TDI Lab Floor Plan

Video Gallery: More Than 30 Researchers Under One Roof

Chief Executive Officer: Steve Perrin, Ph.D.

Steve Perrin, Ph.D., joined the ALS Therapy Development Institute in 2007. Under his leadership as CEO, ALS TDI has assembled a world class scientific team and created an innovative business model bridging philanthropic investments in early stages of drug development with for-profit biotechnology companies to manage clinical translation.

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Translational Research Team: Alex Calo

Alex has been with ALS TDI since 2015. With a background in biology, Alex is a member of the Translational Research Team and works on genetic analysis as part of the Precision Medicine Program (PMP). Alex is responsible for the development and implementation of automated testing using ALS TDI's custom-built Integrated Robotic System.

Discovery Biology Team: Beth Levine

Beth joined ALS TDI in 2007 and has more than 20 years of pharmaceutical and biotechnology experience. As a senior member of the science team, Beth ensures projects are running at maximum efficiency. Beth also studies the C9orf72 mutation, a cause of many previously unexplainable cases of hereditary ALS.

Chief Scientific Officer: Fernando Vieira, M.D.

Fernando Vieira, M.D., started working at ALS TDI in 2001 after studying biological engineering and medicine. As Chief Scientific Officer, Fernando is responsible for leading ALS TDI’s science strategy and overseeing all lab operations and research.

Clinical Team: Melissa Nollstadt

Melissa worked on the Precision Medicine Program (PMP) at ALS TDI from 2018-2020. Although Melissa is no longer with ALS TDI, she played a crucial role in ensuring the PMP ran smoothly. Melissa collaborated with program participants daily and analyzed data, contributing to a key goal of the PMP—to make clinical trials faster and more efficient. Melissa's responsibilities have recently been transitioned to our new Senior Director of Clinical Operations, Nancy Poole.

In Vivo Team: Theo Hatzipetros, Ph.D.

Theo Hatzipetros, Ph.D., is an in vivo pharmacologist who joined ALS TDI in 2011 after working on treatments in another neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson's. As Director of Pharmacology, Theo oversees the execution of multiple studies of experimental drugs in ALS. He focuses on the development of novel animal models of ALS and evaluating therapeutic strategies for the treatment of ALS.

In Vivo Team: Josh Kidd

Josh has been working to end ALS with ALS TDI since 2004, testing potential treatments in models of ALS. He studies the behavioral effects of different treatments in the SOD1-G93A mouse model.

Director of Lab Operations: Ken Thompson

Ken has been with ALS TDI since 2000. As Director of Lab Operations Ken supports the In Vivo Team, manages daily lab operations, and serves as the clerk on the Board of Directors.

Clinical and Discovery Biology Team: Alan Premasiri

Alan started working at ALS TDI in 2013. He splits his time conducting C9orf72 experiments, analyzing accelerometer data, and enhancing our Precision Medicine Program.

Translational Research Team: Kyle Denton, Ph.D.

Kyle joined ALS TDI in 2016 after receiving a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Connecticut. In the lab, Kyle focuses on developing human cell-based models of ALS to learn more about disease mechanisms and screen therapeutic compounds.

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Video Gallery: Covering All Areas of ALS Research

Robot Room

The Robot Room at ALS TDI houses our custom-built Integrated Robotic System. Using automation allows our scientists to scale up drug screening to quickly discover the most promising compounds.

Animal Care Facility

ALS TDI's Animal Care Facility is where our scientists work with animal models of ALS. Our scientists work 24/7 to ensure great care goes into testing drugs in animals humanely and effectively. Compared to cell models of ALS, animal models can do a better job revealing how a drug will behave when delivered to humans.

BL2 Cell Culture Suites

ALS TDI scientists study human and animal cells on a daily basis in our Biosafety Level 2 (BL2) Cell Culture Suites. The cells can be used as models of ALS. Scientists challenge the cells with ALS-related stressors and treat the cells with drugs to discover potential treatments for ALS.

The Main Lab

ALS TDI is the world's foremost drug discovery lab focused solely on ALS. Most equipment in the main lab identifies and quantitates specific DNAs, RNAs, or proteins. Here, our scientists ask questions, like: How will the results of compounds tested in the lab translate into clinical studies?

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