ALSRG Group Research Meeting by Kate Bednarz On Monday, April 30th The ALS Research Group (ALSRG) held a meeting in conjunction with the American Academy of Neurology in Boston, Massachusetts. The ALSRG is a group of investigators aiming to advance basic and clinical ALS research, to facilitate therapy trials, to foster interactions between ALS investigators, to increase awareness of therapeutic opportunities, and to support basic scientists, young investigators and clinical investigators who are interested in ALS research. Thus far, the most successful accomplishment the group has made is the DNA Banking program, which collected more than 1700 DNA samples from both patients and controls across the United States for future research into the etiology of ALS. The DNA Banking project was very successful, and now the group plans to look at additional potential projects, such as a tissue collection. Discussion on how the ALS research group should look in five years focused around creating educational programs, young investigator programs, and involvement in clinical research or clinical trials. At this meeting Dr. Mitsumoto, who played a key role in the initiation of the ALSRG, stepped down as the chair as his term was up. Columbia's own Jackie Montes was elected to the ALSRG Board of Directors as the Allied Member and will be an integral part of the group's future endeavors. AAN Meeting in Boston by Mary Kilty In early May of this year, the American Academy of Neurology held its annual meeting in Boston. Well over 10,000 neurologists from around the world attended. Dr. Mitsumoto made a poster presentation of one of his completed studies. A poster presentation is one where the goals, procedures and results of a research study are presented in poster format in a large room with many posters. The researcher is present to discuss the study results with conference participants. The topic of Dr. Mitsumoto’s poster was the identification of certain ‘biomarkers’ from blood and urine that may be useful in assessing oxidative stress in ALS patients. Biomarkers are various chemicals that are footprints that indicating physiological processes or diseases (or both). Oxidative stress has been associated with ALS and may be an important factor in the development of ALS. Dr. Mitsumoto and his colleagues found that certain oxidative stress biomarkers found in urine were higher in ALS patients than in healthy control patients. This finding is important because urine samples are easy to collect and relatively inexpensive to analyze for biomarkers. This makes them attractive as research tools since research studies entail enrolling large numbers of patients and healthy control subjects. In addition, further research on these biomarkers could lead to their use as diagnostic tools. These results will be a cornerstone for measurement of oxidative stress in upcoming research by Dr. Mitsumoto and his research team. Many noted ALS researchers stopped by the poster and discussed the study results with Dr. Mitsumoto. The study generated much interest and a very positive reaction from these researchers.