ALS Northwest

Join us on Thursday at our Portland office for a fun opportunity to gather, learn and share your thoughts with new Executive Director Cassy Adams! This is a great chance to learn more about our services, hear updates on the latest in ALS advocacy and research, and offer your input as valued members of our community. ???? Children and families welcome! Light refreshments will be provided. ?? RSVPs requested: Let Amy Easton know you'll attend by texting/calling 503-820-4525 or emailing amy.easton@alsnorthwest.org ?? More details: https://lnkd.in/ejDiHRkU

Do you have questions about estate planning? Join us for this no-cost community event in-person on April 8 (Portland) or virtually on April 22! ?? Garvin Reiter, JD, CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorney) will provide an overview of wills, trusts and planned giving while answering your questions. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided at the in-person event. ? Contact Amy Easton at 503-820-4525 or amy.easton@alsnorthwest.org with questions or to RSVP! ?? Portland in-person event details: https://lnkd.in/gSNcESv2 ?? Virtual event details and Zoom link: https://lnkd.in/gmKfXp-U

A heartfelt thank you to Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America for sponsoring our six regional ALS Walks in 2025! MT Pharma is committed to making a real difference in the lives of people living with serious and debilitating diseases, and we're grateful for their support of people living with #ALS.

We are deeply concerned about the proposed 57% cut to FY25 funding for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, which reduces the program's budget from $1.5 billion to $650 million. This cut directly affects critical ALS research, reducing efforts for vital treatments and cures. We urge Congress to retain essential funding and support our ALS Community. Join us in protecting ALS research! ?? Take action THURSDAY, MARCH 13 to make an impact: : https://lnkd.in/eG8VdHE4

Congratulations to Annie Teer for two years with ALS Northwest, and Mary Rebar for an astonishing 12 years! The work Annie does as our Volunteer Coordinator provides people with ALS and their caregivers with vital volunteer assistance that reduces the burden on families through our Helping Hands and Caregiver Mentor programs. ?? Mary, our dedicated Care Services Coordinator for the Willamette Valley, continues to connect with families one-on-one and via support groups, offering crucial resources like medical equipment that enhance quality of life. ??

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ALS research is critical to finding treatments and a cure. Recently, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a new policy capping indirect research funding at 15%—a drastic cut from the usual 40-75%. A federal judge has temporarily blocked this policy, but a final decision is coming soon. This funding change threatens life-saving research, slowing progress in clinical trials and new treatments. Indirect costs, like keeping labs running, supporting research teams, and ensuring compliance, are essential to breakthroughs that give hope to thousands of families. ALS research isn’t political—it’s about saving lives. We must protect funding for the future of ALS research. ?? Take Action Now! Call your representatives at 202-224-3121 and urge them to protect research funding. Your voice makes a difference! ?? Find your representatives in Oregon: https://lnkd.in/gX4Vhtc3 ?? Find your representatives in Washington: https://lnkd.in/e8_u6x5

Thank you to United Access for sponsoring our ALS Ski, Walks, Ride, and Gala fundraisers in 2025 — this support makes a tremendous difference for our ALS community! #UnitedAccess #ALS

ALS Northwest is proud to partner with 14 other ALS organizations across the United States to provide local expertise while collaborating on federal initiatives that drive innovation. “As members of ALS United, we’re excited to collaborate with other dedicated organizations,” shared Cassy Adams, Executive Director of ALS Northwest. “Together, we bring fresh ideas, combine our strengths, and raise our collective voice to push for bold solutions. This partnership is a big step toward creating a better future for people living with ALS.” #ALSUnited #ALS https://lnkd.in/gh-7MSyR

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science! ALS research is a crucial tenet of our mission, and we are so proud to support the work of people like Dr. Bahareh Ajami. ?????? Dr. Ajami is an Assistant Professor of Immunology at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), where she leads pioneering research on the role of the immune system in neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS. Her work integrates cutting-edge single-cell and spatial technologies to uncover immune cell function in the brain and spinal cord. ?? Dr. Ajami was the first to establish that microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells, are self-renewing and do not originate from bone marrow, a discovery that reshaped the field. More recently, her team identified α5 integrin as a promising therapeutic target in ALS, laying the foundation for potential clinical interventions. ?? Beyond her research, Dr. Ajami is a mother, a cancer survivor, and a fierce advocate for diversity in science. Her journey—navigating academia as a woman, an immigrant, and a patient—fuels her commitment to fostering an inclusive and empowering research environment for the next generation of scientists. ?? #ALSResearch #InternationalDayOfWomenAndGirlsInScience