Actor Eric Dane joins Target ALS board after his own diagnosis
His goal, and the nonpofit's? Advancing research and treatments.
- Actor Eric Dane, who's living with ALS, has joined the board of directors of Target ALS.
- The U.S.-based nonprofit funds research to find new treatments for the progressive disease.
- Target ALS is seeking to raise $500,000 in donations in its “Ending ALS Starts With You” year-end campaign.
Actor Eric Dane, who is living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has joined the board of directors of Target ALS, a U.S.-based advocacy and research organization. His goal? Furthering his personal commitment to advancing research into the progressive disease and supporting the nonprofit’s effort to find effective treatments for patients.
“This disease takes something from me every day. But I won’t let it take my spirit. Target ALS embodies that relentless spirit, and that’s why I’m joining the board,” Dane said in a press release from the nonprofit, which has funded hundreds of research projects since its launch in 2013.
Dane, who was diagnosed with ALS earlier this year, has become a public advocate in the quest for a cure. Among his efforts to raise awareness and funding for research, he portrayed a character with ALS on NBC’s medical drama “Brilliant Minds.” He pushed for the episode to direct viewers to I AM ALS, a patient-led nonprofit.
By partnering with Target ALS, he hopes to raise awareness even more, and move research forward.
“I’m looking forward to working alongside the Target ALS team to continue pushing the limits of what’s possible and changing what it means to get an ALS diagnosis,” Dane said. “This community deserves effective treatments, and I want to do my part to deliver them.”
Target ALS’ year-end fundraising campaign aims to bring in $500K
Dane is also the spokesperson for the nonprofit’s year-end fundraising campaign, called “Ending ALS Starts With You.” It aims to raise $500,000 in donations to support new collaborative studies and power the development of new treatments.
“Eric’s courage, determination, and generosity embody the very spirit that drives Target ALS forward,” said Dan Doctoroff, founder of Target ALS. “His willingness to lend his voice and leadership, even while navigating his own diagnosis will inspire the entire ALS community and strengthen our work in profound ways.”
Chaired by Doctoroff, the board of directors helps set overall policy and advises the organization’s leadership team. Its members include researchers, biotech executives, and patients and their families. Philanthropists and leaders from fields such as law, technology, and finance are also members.
“I am honored to welcome [Dane] to our board and deeply grateful for the commitment he brings to this mission,” Doctoroff said.
We’re thrilled that Eric has joined our board of directors to help us scale our impact.
ALS is a progressive disease that damages motor neurons — the nerve cells that control voluntary muscles — in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness. While there are available treatments, their ability to slow disease progression and extend survival remains limited.
Target ALS focuses on removing common obstacles in medical research. These obstacles include high costs, limited access to research tools, and disputes over intellectual property. Through a shared, collaborative model, the organization supports scientists in moving promising ideas from the lab toward testing in patients.
“When we were building Target ALS, we looked at the field and asked, ‘what are the barriers to progress?’” said Manish Raisinghani, PhD, CEO of Target ALS. “By identifying and systematically dismantling those barriers, we created a model that not only accelerates the pace of research, but ensures that the work is based on good quality science.”
Raisinghani added: “We’re thrilled that Eric has joined our board of directors to help us scale our impact.”
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