ALS Association grants to expand multidisciplinary care at clinics
107 clinics across U.S. will get $20,000 each to strengthen resources
- ALS Association grants $2.14M to 107 clinics for multidisciplinary care.
- Funding aims to extend survival and improve quality of life for ALS patients.
- Grants support staffing, equipment, education, and patient copay assistance.
The ALS Association is awarding $20,000 grants to 107 eligible clinics across the U.S. to help strengthen multidisciplinary care for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their families.
The funding — totaling $2.14 million — comes from the Hugh and Herbert Hoffman ALS Impact Fund, established through a gift from the late philanthropist Hugh Hoffman, who lost his father to ALS. The fund is dedicated to removing barriers and expanding access to quality care in communities nationwide.
Eligible clinics are part of the ALS Association’s national network of Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence and Recognized Treatment Centers. The program was created in 1989 to recognize and support clinics that provide the highest standard of ALS care, and has since evolved into the nation’s leading network of ALS clinics, the association said.
“We know that multidisciplinary care is proven to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with ALS, but access still depends far too much on where someone lives,” Calaneet Balas, president and CEO of the ALS Association, said in an association press release. “These grants ensure clinics have the resources they need to provide expert care in communities across the country, helping people with ALS live longer and fuller lives.”
The association anticipates distributing all grants by the end of the year.
Expanding access to team-based care
Certified centers are required to meet rigorous standards. They bring together neurologists, therapists, social workers, nutritionists, and other specialists who work as a team to deliver the best care throughout every stage of the disease.
The awards will help certified clinics strengthen their offerings and support the organization’s long-term effort to expand access to expert, team-based ALS care. Clinics may use the funding to support staffing, upgrade essential equipment, fund educational efforts, or offer patient copay assistance, resources that directly enhance day-to-day care for people living with ALS.
The announcement follows a study, co-authored and funded by the ALS Association, projecting a significant increase in the number of people living with ALS worldwide by 2040. The estimated 25% rise in ALS cases will be driven by an aging population and longer ALS survival due to improved care.
As prevalence rises, the need for accessible, affordable, and well-coordinated ALS services becomes increasingly urgent, particularly in areas with limited access to specialized care.
“This funding comes at a crucial moment,” said Jen Hjelle, chief community engagement officer for the ALS Association. “Every clinic we support is more than a medical facility — it’s a lifeline for families navigating an ALS diagnosis. Strengthening these centers means strengthening the entire ALS community.”
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