CHAT WITH ALS TDI LEADERS ON MAY 31
The largest amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) drug discovery project in history will be the subject of a special online chat at 2 p.m. EDT on May 31. The chat will include MDA Vice President of Translational Research Sharon Hesterlee and the three top officials of the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI): CEO & Founding Director James Heywood, President Sean Scott, and Chief Scientific Officer Steve Perrin.

A mechanical engineer educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Heywood started the ALS Therapy Development Foundation (now ALS TDI) when his brother, Stephen Heywood, received a diagnosis of ALS in 1999.


With an annual budget of $12 million, ALS TDI runs a nonprofit fast-track research program dedicated to developing treatments for ALS. In January, the group formed an historic partnership with MDA through the Association’s Augie’s Quest fund-raising initiative, launching the largest ALS drug discovery project to date.

Scott began volunteering at ALS TDI in 2000 when his mother learned she had ALS, and later assumed the management and direction of the company’s research and development program. Scott has built strong partnerships with a number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in an effort to accelerate the pace of drug development and increase funding for developing ALS therapeutics.

Perrin joined ALS TDI earlier this year, bringing more than 20 years of experience in genomics and proteomics applied to translational research. Perrin earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Boston University School of Medicine, and a B.S. in biology from Boston College.

Hesterlee oversees MDA funding of research designed to move new drug targets into the clinic as rapidly and efficiently as possible.

To participate in this special online event, please register with MDA Chat by e-mailing mdachat@mdausa.org. If you already take part in chats on MDA’s Web site, please join in using your usual nickname and password.

Along with this special happening, MDA offers a “Living with ALS” chat that takes place four times weekly. For a complete chat schedule, please visit www.mda.org/chat/calendar.html