ALS CROWD BIG DATA INITIATIVE

ALS is a terminal illness with an unknown cause and no treatment to stop its effects. It robs diagnosees, in a very short time, of the ability to move, eat, and breathe. Also known as Lou Gehrig’ Disease, ALS gained global attention in 2014 during the phenomenon known as the Ice Bucket Challenge. Though millions participated in this challenge, the ALS community still finds itself grappling to discover a cause and a cure. There is little known about how and why patients develop ALS. There are no biomarkers, or lab tests, that can accurately validate an ALS diagnosis. Typically, ALS is diagnosed through observational symptoms like a loss of mobility or muscle atrophy. The ALS Crowd Big Data Initiative is gathering patient data in order to compare lab values, genetics and other factors that could help identify actionable targets for a cure.