ALS New Mexico Partners with ALS United to Advance Groundbreaking Research on Medication Impact in ALS and Parkinson’s

At ALS New Mexico, we are proud to work in partnership with ALS United to bring critical research developments to our ALS community. Through this collaboration, we aim to ensure that those affected by ALS in New Mexico have access to the latest research, resources, and hope. One of the most exciting updates we’re sharing is a newly announced project focused on better understanding the role medications may play in the development and progression of ALS and Parkinson’s diseases.

Critical Research Project to Find a Cure for ALS and Parkinson’s Disease

This $300,000 collaborative research project is being conducted at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and is supported by ALS United, the ALS CURE Project, Livermore Lab Foundation, RDM Positive Impact Foundation, and Stanford University. The research is led by Dr. Priyadip Ray (Lawrence Livermore), Dr. Richard Reimer (Stanford and Veterans Administration), Dr. Jennifer Wilson (UCLA), and Dr. Kevin Grimes (Stanford).

Their work centers on analyzing electronic health records (EHRs) to understand how certain medications—originally developed for other uses—might influence the progression of ALS and Parkinson’s. While medications are designed to treat specific conditions, they often have unintended, off-target effects. This study aims to identify which of those effects may actually help slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

ALS Research and Veterans Addressed in the Study

The first phase of the research focused on more than 20,000 veterans with ALS, and early findings revealed several drug classes associated with longer survival. However, because the veteran population has unique risk factors (such as being predominantly male and having military experience), those results may not fully apply to the general population.

To address this, the team will now expand their analysis using the Optum EHR dataset, which contains millions of patient records. With this broader data set—provided through Stanford—researchers will use advanced machine learning tools to search for potential drug repurposing candidates that may slow ALS progression. Parallel research into Parkinson’s disease will use the same methods, potentially uncovering shared patterns and therapeutic opportunities between the two diseases.

ALS New Mexico Collaborates with ALS United to Further ALS Research and Cure Development

This initiative represents the kind of high-impact research that ALS United and ALS New Mexico strive to support—research that moves us closer to effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure.

Together, we remain committed to bringing hope, information, and resources to individuals and families facing ALS here in New Mexico. ALS New Mexico is dedicated to continuing our efforts to raise money, awareness, and support for ALS in New Mexico.

Stay tuned for more updates on this and other promising research efforts and get involved with the ALS community here in New Mexico, your impact can help make a difference!