Beyond the Neuron: A New ALS Strategy Targets the Nervous System's Support Crew

PORTLAND, OR – June 04, 2026 – In the relentless battle against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a strategic recalibration is underway. ALS Northwest, a key regional player, is intensifying its research investment through a deepened national collaboration that prioritizes scientific innovation over institutional inertia. The initiative's flagship project challenges a long-held tenet of ALS research by focusing not on the disease's primary victims—motor neurons—but on the nervous system's vast and influential support crew: glial cells.

This effort, part of a growing portfolio of Collaborative Research Innovation Grants supported by the ALS United network, is channeling funds to a project led by Dr. Faranak Fattahi at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and her collaborator, Dr. Sarah Kishinevsky, CEO of EverTree Bio. Their work tests a compelling hypothesis: that glial cells are not passive witnesses to neurodegeneration but active participants in its progression. By developing drugs to protect these support cells, they hope to open an entirely new front in the war against ALS.

"Advancing research is not optional, it's urgent," said Cassy Adams, Executive Director of ALS Northwest. "By investing in innovative science and working collectively across the ALS community, we are helping unlock new possibilities that can change the trajectory of this disease."

A New Architecture for Funding

The structure powering this research is as noteworthy as the science itself. ALS United, formally established in early 2025, represents a significant restructuring of the non-profit landscape. Comprising fifteen independent organizations—many of which separated from The ALS Association in recent years—the network was built to combine local autonomy with national impact. This decentralized yet coordinated model aims to eliminate the redundancies and overhead that can hamper large, centralized entities, directing more donor dollars toward high-potential research and patient care.

The Collaborative Research Innovation Grants are the centerpiece of this strategy. Facilitated by the ALS Network, the program employs a Scientific Advisory Committee of leading researchers to vet and select projects. The goal is to provide seed funding for "bold scientific ideas," establishing the proof of concept needed to attract larger-scale investment later. This model of pooled resources and shared infrastructure is a direct response to the complexity of ALS, a disease that has long defied a singular therapeutic approach. By fostering cross-institutional collaboration, the network aims to build a more resilient and efficient research ecosystem.

Shifting the Scientific Focus

For decades, the primary focus of ALS research has been the motor neuron. Dr. Fattahi's project, "Evaluation of Glioprotective Small Molecules for ALS Therapy," represents a crucial pivot. It operates on the premise that the cellular environment surrounding the neurons is a critical battlefield. Glial cells, which outnumber neurons in the brain, perform essential housekeeping and support functions, from providing nutrients to clearing waste. In neurodegenerative diseases, these cells can become stressed and dysfunctional, transforming from protectors into contributors to the toxic environment that kills neurons.

The research seeks to identify and test small-molecule drugs designed to shield these glial cells from stress, effectively restoring their protective function. If successful, this "glioprotective" strategy could slow or prevent the downstream damage to motor neurons and muscles. This would not replace existing therapies but would offer a powerful complementary pathway, potentially creating synergistic effects when combined with treatments that directly target neurons. The project's ambition is to validate this approach across multiple forms of ALS, preserving movement, muscle function, and ultimately, survival.

The project is anchored by formidable expertise. Dr. Fattahi is an Associate Professor at UCSF's prestigious Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, an institution at the global forefront of neuroscience. Dr. Kishinevsky, leading the biotech firm EverTree Bio, provides the crucial translational bridge from academic discovery to therapeutic development.

Investing in Hope Amidst High Stakes

The financial commitment from organizations like ALS Northwest is the lifeblood of such early-stage, high-risk science. Having invested nearly $3 million in research since its founding in 2002, the organization understands that breakthroughs are not accidents; they are the result of sustained, strategic investment. The current funding landscape for ALS is fiercely competitive, with promising avenues in gene therapy, immune modulation, and stem cell research all vying for resources.

Within this context, the glial cell project represents a calculated bet on a novel mechanism. Its success is not guaranteed, but its potential to unlock a new class of therapies makes it a vital component of a diversified research portfolio. For the hundreds of individuals that ALS Northwest supports annually with care services, equipment loans, and advocacy, such investments represent the most tangible form of hope.

The urgency is palpable. Despite recent progress, the unmet need in ALS remains immense. Most approved therapies offer only modest benefits in slowing progression, and no treatment can halt or reverse the disease. The patient community is desperate for therapies that do more than extend survival by a few months—they need treatments that preserve function and restore quality of life. This new research, by aiming to stabilize the foundational environment of the nervous system, speaks directly to that hope for a more profound and lasting impact on the disease's course.