The Access for ALL in ALS (ALL ALS) Consortium is a nationwide, NIH-funded clinical research initiative in the United States that collects and shares biological samples and clinical data to accelerate amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research. Aeryn Hopwood and Emma Schmidt of the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine will discuss the structure of the study including the study cohorts, the inclusion/exclusion criteria, which cohorts are still enrolling, the different sites located across the United States, the importance of identifying biomarkers in ALS, what the goals of the studies are, and what data the consortium is collecting actively that will help people living with ALS, their family members, and others in the future. 

About the Speakers: Aeryn Hopwood & Emma Schmidt 

Aeryn Hopwood: Aeryn Hopwood is currently a Research Coordinator for the Neuromuscular Research team at Northwestern University. Aeryn has worked on clinical trials, observational trials, and expanded access protocols. She currently leads 5 different trials and has helped to increase the enrollment of all of her trials. She works directly with the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic at Northwestern Medicine to identify new potential research participants, provide support to research participants, and to notify people living with ALS of research opportunities. She works to create special and meaningful relationships with all of her participants so that they feel comfortable and confident when participating in research.   

Emma Schmidt: Emma Schmidt is currently the Clinical Operations Manager for the Neuromuscular Research team at Northwestern University. She has worked on/overseen over 30 ALS studies. As a manager, she has more than quadrupled the size of the neuromuscular research team at Northwestern. She has partnered with the Les Turner Foundation, who supports the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic at Northwestern Medicine, to create the My ALS Decision Tool for people living with ALS to learn about research and make an educated decision on participating. She hopes to continue educating both people living with ALS and their caregivers, care teams, and support systems about what research is and why it is so important.