The basic science and clinical members of the Robert Packard Center for ALS Research continue a longtime scholarly tradition at Johns Hopkins. As leaders in their fields, Center investigators conduct multidisciplinary studies to uncover the biological flaws responsible for ALS. The scientists include faculty from Johns Hopkins as well as experts at other academic or private institutions.

The Center typically awards research grants for one to two years. Its Scientific Advisory Committee and Operating Committee annually review each grant to see if funding is appropriate. Grants are canceled if an investigator fails to maintain productive research or fails to attend requisite monthly scientific meetings.

The Center actively recruits high-caliber national and international scientists willing to tackle specific projects. Nearly 50 percent of our research funds each year go to scientists outside of Hopkins.

Meetings / Retreats / Symposia
To spark new ideas and improve existing research, the Center holds monthly investigator meetings, often inviting outside collaborators. The scientists review each others' progress and pinpoint new projects to advance the Center's mission. Each year, the Center also sponsors a short retreat to review overall progress, present new findings, outline new avenues for research and suggest new investigators. Finally, the Center sponsors an annual symposium where Center scientists meet other ALS investigators worldwide to discuss new approaches to ALS or a related diseases.

Funding
While much of the support for the Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins comes from the two foundations that helped create it, funds are also donated by a variety of private sources. When possible, Center investigators use their research to leverage funding by other agencies such as the NIH.

Specialties
The following Center-funded scientists are arranged by area of expertise:

Pathogenesis:

• David Borchelt, Ph.D.
• Donald Cleveland, Ph.D.
• Larry Goldstein, Ph.D.
• Jean-Pierre Julien, Ph.D.
• Donald Price, M.D.
• Jeffrey Rothstein, M.D., Ph.D.
• Philip C. Wong, Ph.D.

Motor Neuron Biology:

• John W. Griffin, M.D.
• Douglas Kerr, M.D., Ph.D.

Therapy Development:

• Ted Dawson, M.D., Ph.D.
• John Gearhart, M.D.
• Jonathan Glass, M.D.
• Ahmet Hoke, M.D., Ph.D.
• Douglas Kerr, M.D., Ph.D.
• Jeffrey Rothstein, MD, Ph.D.

Clinical Research:

• David Cornblath, M.D.
• Daniel Drachman, M.D.
• Jonathan Glass, M.D.
• Jeffrey Rothstein, M.D., Ph.D.

Neuropathologic Studies:

• Jonathan Glass, M.D.
• John W. Griffin, M.D.
• Donald Price, M.D.
• Jeffrey Rothstein, M.D., Ph.D.

ASSOCIATED FACULTY:

Molecular Mechanisms:

• David Borchelt, Ph.D.
• Don Cleveland, Ph.D.
• Val Culotta, Ph.D.
• Valina Dawson, Ph.D.
• Ted Dawson, M.D., Ph.D.
• Jeffrey Elliott, M.D.
• Raquelli Ganel, Ph.D.
• David Ginty, Ph.D.
• Larry Goldstein, Ph.D.
• Marie Hardwick, Ph.D.
• Ahmet Hoke, M.D., Ph.D.
• Richard Huganir, Ph.D.
• Jean-Pierre Julien, Ph.D.
• Douglas Kerr, M.D., Ph.D.
• Vassilis E. Koliatsos, M.D.
• Alexander Kolodkin, Ph.D.
• Michael Lee, Ph.D.
• Allen Mandir, M.D., Ph.D.
• Lee Martin, Ph.D.
• Richard O'Brien, M.D., Ph.D.
• Donald Price, M.D.
• Christopher A. Ross, M.D., Ph.D.
• Jeffrey Rothstein, M.D., Ph.D.
• Juan Troncoso, M.D.
• Philip C. Wong, Ph.D.
• Paul Worley, M.D.

Transgenic Animals:

• David Borchelt, Ph.D.
• Ted Dawson, M.D., Ph.D.
• David Irani, M.D.
• Michael Lee, Ph.D.
• Donald Price, M.D.
• Christopher A. Ross, M.D., Ph.D.
• Jeffrey Rothstein, M.D., Ph.D.
• Philip C. Wong, Ph.D.

Clinical Trials:

• Vinay Chaudhry, M.D.
• David Cornblath, M.D.
• Daniel Drachman, M.D.
• Jeffrey Elliott, M.D.
• Jonathan Glass, M.D.
• Nick Maragakis, M.D.
• Jeffrey Rothstein, M.D., Ph.D.
• Lora Clawson, MSN, CRNP

Experimental Therapeutics:

• Ted Dawson, M.D., Ph.D.
• Daniel Drachman, M.D.
• John Gearhart, M.D.
• David Ginty, Ph.D.
• Jonathan Glass, M.D.
• John W. Griffin, M.D.
• Ahmet Hoke, M.D., Ph.D.
• David Irani, M.D.
• Douglas Kerr, M.D., Ph.D.
• Vassilis E. Koliatsos, M.D.
• Nick Maragakis, M.D.
• Mahendra Rao, M.D., Ph.D.
• Jeffrey Rothstein, M.D., Ph.D.

Clinical Investigations:

• Vinay Chaudry, M.D.
• Robin Conwit, M.D.
• David Cornblath, M.D.
• Andrea Corse, M.D.
• John W. Griffin, M.D.
• Ahmet Hoke, M.D., Ph.D.
• Kazim Sheikh, MBBS

ALS Clinicians:

• Vinay Chaudry, M.D.
• Robin Conwit, M.D.
• David Cornblath, M.D.
• Andrea Corse, M.D.
• Daniel Drachman, M.D.
• Jeffrey Elliott, M.D.
• Jonathan Glass, M.D.
• John W. Griffin, M.D.
• Ahmet Hoke, M.D., Ph.D.
• Richard O'Brien, M.D., Ph.D.
• Jeffrey Rothstein, M.D., Ph.D.
• Kazim Sheikh, MBBS
• Charlie Weiner, M.D.

ALS Clinic:

• Lora Clawson, MSN, CRNP