In recent years, federal funding has helped power several of The ALS Therapy Development Institute's (ALS TDI) key research initiatives, supporting efforts that span biomarker discovery, therapeutic development, and large-scale analysis of lifestyle risk factors. These grants have been from agencies including the U.S. Department of War (DOW) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Below is an overview of the work these grants have helped move forward.
Unlocking Biomarkers Through Proteomics
Grant Purpose: Proteomics
Funder: Department of War
Principal Investigator: Fernando Vieira
Status: Completed (End of 2024)
Understanding ALS requires better tools to track disease biology and progression. This DOW-funded proteomics grant supported the collection of serum samples through the ALS Research Collaborative (ARC), paired with large-scale protein analysis using SomaLogic technology. By analyzing hundreds of proteins simultaneously, this work aimed to identify circulating biomarkers that could improve disease monitoring, patient stratification, and future clinical trials. The project builds on ALS TDI’s long-standing commitment to biomarker discovery and data-driven insight. These data have been deposited in the Neuromine database for access by the global ALS research community.
Moving Toward New Therapeutics with PRMT Inhibitors
Grant Purpose: PRMT
Funder: Department of War
Principal Investigator: Fernando Vieira
Status: Completed (End of 2025)
Turning biological insight into treatment requires rigorous translational research. This DOW-funded grant enabled the testing of two protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) inhibitors across two ALS mouse models. The goal was clear: generate a rigorous data package to evaluate therapeutic potential and determine readiness for IND-enabling studies. By systematically assessing efficacy in vivo, this work helps de-risk early drug development and move promising compounds closer to the clinic. While the data from these specific studies did not support the advancement of PRMT inhibitors as treatments for ALS, they pointed to pathways for new research which could still lead to effective treatments.
Exploring TNIK as a Therapeutic Target
Grant Purpose: TNIK
Funder: Department of War
Principal Investigator: Theo Hatzipetros
Status: Ongoing
An ongoing DOW-supported project focuses on Traf2- and Nck-interacting kinase (TNIK), a target implicated in neurodegenerative pathways. This grant funds both in vitro studies and testing in ALS mouse models to evaluate TNIK inhibitors. Ongoing work aims to clarify whether modulating TNIK activity could alter disease-relevant mechanisms and support future therapeutic development.
Identifying ALS Risk Factors at Scale
Grant Purpose: Risk Factor Analysis
Funder: HHS / CDC
Principal Investigator: Fernando Vieira
Status: Ongoing
Complementing laboratory research, this CDC-funded project leverages the power of real-world data. The grant supports standardization of ARC datasets, in-depth analysis to identify ALS lifestyle risk factors, and sharing of results through the ARC Data Commons. By harmonizing longitudinal data from people with ALS, this work helps illuminate patterns in disease onset and progression, strengthening public health understanding and guiding future research priorities.
From Investment to Impact
Together, these grants reflect a comprehensive approach to ALS research, linking biomarkers, therapeutic targets, preclinical models, and large-scale human data.
Federal support facilitates the pursuit of this level of integrated, high-impact work. And while progress in ALS research has historically been limited by funding, investments like these are helping to change that trajectory, accelerating the development of better tools, more informed clinical trials, and ultimately, potential treatments for people living with ALS.
