New ALS Group’s Goal: Finding a New Treatment by 2020

Entrepreneur Kevin Gosnell announced the launch of ALS ONE – a partner organization of the ALS Association and ALS Finding a Cure that aims to bring world-leading experts in neurology and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) care together to realize an ambitious goal: finding a new ALS treatment within four years.

According to a press release from the ALS Association, the organization includes the ALS Therapy Development Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), UMass Medical School and Compassionate Care ALS (CCALS). The Association and ALS Finding a Cure will contribute to ALS ONE by developing and funding suitable research initiatives, the release reported.

The idea behind the partnership is the synergistic possibilities of a collaborative effort. Goswell believes that sharing ideas and responsibilities could identify the strongest treatment leads and propel their development. Since all the involved institutions will be sharing information, unnecessary repetition of work will also be eliminated – advancing the research for an ALS treatment.

Gosnell, the founder of  T&K Asphalt Services, in Whitman, Massachusetts, was diagnosed with ALS in 2015, and — as a CEO and businessman — he immediately initiated talks with ALS experts leading to his founding of ALS ONE. In addition to working with projects aiming to find a treatment, the organization wants to improve the care for ALS patients and their families.

“My nana Gosnell always said, ‘many hands make light work’ and as a small business CEO, I’ve lived by these words and always believed in the power of a team,” Gosnell said. “When I was diagnosed with ALS last spring, I was disheartened by the lack of collaboration in the field of ALS and decided to dedicate my remaining time to leverage my business and leadership skills to help build a team of the top ALS experts here in Massachusetts, the medical hub of the world, to expedite progress toward finding a treatment.”

ALS ONE also aims to create more access to clinical trials for patients with ALS by offering education and transportation. The new organization also plans to provide equipment, technology, and support services to ALS trials.

“Collaborations are key to expediting treatments for people living with this disease and we are very pleased to see these groups coming together in Massachusetts, a key area of the country where tremendous ALS work is happening,” said Lucie Bruijn, the chief scientist for the ALS Association.