How We Operate

While the Packard Center's individual projects have merit – they're all worthy of funding – it’s the collaborative sessions where ALS scientists share ideas that will likely make the difference.

Collaboration and Synergy…

We believe the key to research for a cure to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – also known as Lou Gehrig's disease – is synergy.

Most NIH-supported projects require hours of collaboration in the planning stages. Yet that typically drops off once funding begins and researchers have less incentive to work together.

Although the Center supports several hundred scientists, technicians and lab staff, its members collaborate throughout projects. The push for this comes, in part, from the regular monthly investigators' meetings – required of Center grantees – and yearly symposia. It also comes from central planning that insures that ALS scientists in each lab are working on a crucial piece of the overall puzzle.