Our Commitment to a Cure awardees’ relentless pursuit of antisense technology is leading to innovative and promising therapeutic opportunities and clinical trials for people living with ALS. Antisense technology is a novel approach which delivers a DNA based therapeutic that may eliminate the gene mutations which cause ALS. The first human trial demonstrated the safety and practicality of the treatment’s delivery approach. This recent success lays the groundwork for advanced clinical trials and opens the door to discover exciting new forms of treatment, and a cure, for ALS. The collaborative research efforts of these dedicated scientists have been supported by The ALS Association’s TREAT ALS™ (Translational Research Advancing Therapies for ALS) program. The ALS Association’s essential seed funding    established the proof of concept in pre-clinical work. This early investment and continued support, made possible by generous donors, a forward thinking industry partner, and championed by this extraordinary team of scientists, brings us closer to our vision of a creating a world without ALS. Read more about this groundbreaking effort in this ALS Association article.

This inaugural award recognizes the late Gary Cooper for his unforgettable, Oscar-nominated portrayal of Lou Gehrig in the 1942 Academy Award-winning film, "The Pride of the Yankees.”

This is the first time that Mr. Cooper will be recognized for his remarkable contribution to raising ALS awareness through his powerful performance as the “Iron Horse”; a role that defined the public’s understanding of ALS around the world.

His daughter, Maria Cooper Janis will accept the Essey Award on his behalf.

Read more in this article.

Mark Amin, founder and CEO of Sobini Films, and his talented team have chronicled the inspirational story of screenwriter Scott Lew and his wife Annabel in the film, “Jujitsu-ing Reality.”

Scott has been living with ALS since 2004. Now paralyzed and dependent upon a ventilator to breathe and a special computer device to write, the award-winning documentary provides a revealing look into Scott and Annabel’s daily life and the painstaking process of writing his recent film released in 2013, “Sexy Evil Genius.”

An inspirational story of creativity and perseverance, the filmmakers have poignantly shared how the passion for life can overcome the challenges of living with ALS. Watch the film on their website.