ALS clinical trials and clinical research represent opportunities to improve the life of ALS patients while they await the development of treatments with significant survival benefits.  A recent research study confirmed that participation in a clinical trial (or other research program) brings benefits of more frequent and comprehensive clinical care to study enrolees.  In order to bring the opportunity of clinical trials to more ALS patients across Canada, ALS Canada supported the incorporation of CALS (Canadian ALS clinical research Consortium) as well as the first clinical trial run by CALS (the lithium study).  Currently there are 15 CALS centres from British Columbia to Nova Scotia.

ALS Canada has also established the Bernice Ramsay Clinical Fellowship program with the goal of adding capacity by training newly certified neurologists (or physiatrists) specifically in clinical care and clinical research for ALS patients.  This fellowship is a two-year award.

CALS will require a minimum base of annual support for its operation.  This funding could support the central clinical co-ordinator (based at the Sunnybrook ALS clinic),  and additional administrative needs pertinent to all 15 CALS centres.  The ALS clinical fellowships are naming opportunities--  the Betty Norman (Dr. Kerri Schellenberg / Edmonton) and Bernice Ramsay (Dr. Vincenzo Basile/ Sunnybrook) fellowships are examples of this.

For more information contact:
Denise A. Figlewicz, PhD
Vice-President Research
ALS Society of Canada
3000 Steeles Avenue East, Suite 200
Markham, Ontario L3R 4T9
Toll Free: 1-800-267-4257 | ext. 202 | daf@als.ca