“When I was told that Lester had ALS, I couldn’t even pronounce the word,” said Ina Turner Jones. “I don’t remember what I ate for lunch yesterday, but I remember the doctor’s speech verbatim.” Ina Turner Jones, widow of Les …
Faces of ALS: Devoted to Care
Jayanthy Thiagarajah was a fiercely independent woman and a devoted grandmother. In early 2021, having recently lost her husband, Jayanthy was still in mourning when she took a couple of nasty falls that required medical attention. She lived in Boston, …
Les Turner ALS Foundation Names Laura Freveletti as New Chief Executive Officer
The Les Turner ALS Foundation announced today that Laura Freveletti has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective April 10, 2023. Freveletti succeeds Andrea Pauls Backman, who will step down after eight years of service as CEO. “We are thrilled …
Call for Comments: Proposed Decision on Medicare & Seat Elevation Systems
UPDATE: As of May 16, 2023, Medicare will formally cover wheelchair seat elevating systems for many types of power wheelchairs. We applaud this decision and are proud to have advocated for it. These systems are vital for those living with a disability. …
March 2023 Foundation eNews
Foundation News FDA Advisory Committee meeting on tofersen, an SOD1-ALS treatment set for March 22 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will hold an advisory committee meeting on March 22 to review Biogen’s New Drug Application (NDA) for accelerated …
Comments to the FDA Advisory Committee in Support of Tofersen Approval
RE: FDA-2022-N-0691 Dear FDA Advisory Committee: We write to express our strong support for the approval of tofersen under the FDA’s Accelerated Approval Program. Our organization’s long history of scientific research into SOD1-ALS and our depth of experience supporting people …
February 2023 Foundation eNews
Foundation News Calming the destructive cells of ALS One of the reasons that ALS can progress quickly is that certain types of cells in the human body will attack diseased upper motor neurons, which are needed to initiate movement. Once …
Calming the destructive cells of ALS by two independent approaches
Scientists from the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine have discovered two ways to preserve diseased upper motor neurons that would normally be destroyed in ALS, based on a study in mice. Upper motor neurons initiate movement, and they …
Faces of ALS: A mother’s love
Chaunelle Caver-Perkins and her family will be among the guests at the 35th annual Hope Through Caring Gala this Saturday, Feb. 18. You can support the ALS research, education and clinical care described below by participating in our silent auction. …
2022 Impact Report
Your support of the Les Turner ALS Foundation is felt by people living with ALS, caregivers, families and loved ones everywhere. By making a donation or volunteering your time, you helped ensure they had the support they needed – and …
