“Twenty-Ten” is shaping up to be quite a year.

• Several drugs are entering into trials or are progressing to Stage 3 testing. Our ALSA Center of Excellence at University of Kansas Medical Center is participating in many of them. (See our Web site for a listing.)
• The recent identification of additional genes related to ALS has provided us many more paths to explore.

• Biomarker research is honing in on ways to better diagnose ALS and to identify strategic opportunities for treatments.
• An updated set of practice parameters for ALS calls for a more aggressive approach and outlines several therapies that can improve the quality of life for those living with this disease.

We are doing all we can to step up the pace here at
The Keith Worthington Chapter.

• We have added 2 new board members in Kansas City and a new advisor in Nebraska. You can read about them in next month’s newsletter. These invaluable volunteers provide leadership and reach to our mission.
• We are increasing our Care Coordination staff with a social worker who will focus on insuring that those in the most rural areas are receiving the best possible service.
• We are enlarging our clinic at The University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and moving it along the path to certification by The ALS Association.
• We are utilizing conference calls, WebEx meetings and telemedicine to expand our delivery of service.

We are very heartened by these advances and our growth and eager to see them all translated into direct benefits for those we serve. It is even more heartening when you realize these advances and growth are taking place in such a tough economic climate. There is only one thing that makes this possible and that is the dedication and determination with which so many people embrace the fight against this disease. The volunteers never stop and the donors just keep reaching deeper!

So here’s to 2010 and the hope for continued advances!