The ALS Association Louisiana/Mississippi Chapter: Home Page

The ALS Association Louisiana/Mississippi Chapter

Advocacy Updates

Click Here for the latest updates on
Advocacy efforts including the 2010 National ALS Advocacy Day and Public Policy Conference.

Volunteer Opportunities

We are always looking for volunteers to serve on our committees or to serve in our office. If you are interested in current volunteer opportunities Click Here for details.

Double Your Donation!

Many companies offer matching gift programs to encourage employees to contribute to charitable organizations. Most programs match employee contributions dollar for dollar!

To find out if your company will match a contribution, please visit www.matchinggifts.com/als

Wheelchair Accessible Vans, Power Wheelchair & Lift For Sale

Are you in the market for a Wheelchair Accessible Van, Power Wheelchair, or Lift?
If so Click Here for details.

ALS Advocacy Virtual Support Community

The ALS Advocacy Support Community connects patients, families, friends and caregivers for support and inspiration. Join and you can begin blogging, particpating in discussion groups and much more!
Click Here to join this online community.

Upcoming Events

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Walk to Defeat ALS!
There will be Walks in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Orleans, and Jackson, MS.
Click here for more details.

Once you register for the Walk to Defeat ALS, don’t forget to use the Walk Participant Center to customize your personal and team pages, send out emails, and track donations. Click on the video below!.

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Click here to view the Angela Lansbury Cure ALS PSA
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Event Photos

2010 Fire & Ice Gala

2009 Lafayette Walk to Defeat ALS

2009 New Orleans Walk to Defeat ALS

2009 Jackson Walk to Defeat ALS 1

2009 Jackson Walk to Defeat ALS 2

2009 Petal and Pearls Fashion Show

May 2009 Corks N Canvas

2009 Lou Gerhig Day at the Box

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Want to hold an event to benefit The ALS Association Louisiana Chapter? Click Here for information and suggestions on Third Party Events.

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LA_LAMS Map

Welcome toThe ALS Association
Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter

640 Main Street, Suite 101
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
P.O. Box 66825
Baton Rouge, LA 70896-6825
Email: info@alsalams.org
Phone: 225-343-9880
Toll Free: 800-891-3746
Fax: 225-381-0087

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Spotlight Bar 9_07

Genome Study Identifies
Chromosome 9 Link to ALS

In an ALS Association-funded study conducted in Finland, researchers found that a major cause of familial ALS was located on chromosome 9p21. Finland is a well suited location for a genome-wide association (GWA) study of ALS because the incidence of the ALS is one of the highest in the world, and the genetic background of the Finnish population is relatively homogenous. Previous GWA studies have failed to identify a single location that is significant and can be replicated in other studies probably because of the heterogeneity of the disease.

“Although GWA study has been a disappointing approach to find new genes linked to sporadic ALS, it is encouraging to see the approach used successfully in a more homogeneous population,” said ALS Association Chief Scientist Dr. Lucie Bruijn, Ph.D.

In the study published in Lancet Neurology, 853 DNA samples were collected from 442 people with ALS and 521 control individuals. Control samples were from a population-based study of elderly Finnish individuals. People known to carry the SOD1 gene were included in the final analysis as positive controls to assess whether this genome-wide association study was able to detect an association signal.

Read the full story

Local Spotlight

DR. GABRIEL LASALA DISCUSSES UNITED STATES’ FIRST FDA TRIAL USING A PATIENT’S OWN
STEM CELLS TO TREAT LOU GEHRIG’S DISEASE AT BATON ROUGE ALS SUPPORT GROUP

Covington, LA – U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given TCA Cellular Therapy, LLC (TCA-CT) the green light to conduct their Phase I adult stem cell clinical trials to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), a fatal disease that afflicts approximately 30,000 Americans. This is the second FDA-approved protocol for the treatment of ALS using stem cells in the country; and the first using adult stem cells from the same patient. The aim of the Phase I study will assess safety.

Watch Dr. Lasala's presentation on TCA Cellular's ALS Trial Here!

Click Here for Video 1 Click Here for Video 2 Click Here for Video 3 Click Here for Video 4

TCA-CT currently has five FDA Cardiovascular Trials in progress utilizing adult stem cells, which has produced no adverse effects to date. Two of the trials will be entering Phase III, the final phase before marketability, later this year.

Dr. Lasala has been involved with research since 1981. As a practicing cardiologist, Lasala’s interest in stem cells peaked when he learned of a successful case study performed by a group of German doctors several years ago treating heart conditions using stem cells. Dr. Lasala started to search for a world expert in stem cells. After trips to Germany, China and Chile, Dr Lasala had a meeting with cell biologist Jose Minguell, PhD in Chile.

Until 2006, as the director the director of the department of Cellular Therapy at the Universidad de Chile in Santiago, Dr. Minguell joined TCA-CT with the US patent for isolating adult stem cells from a patient’s own bone marrow and the science to multiply the cells and utilize them in various medical applications,

About the Trial

Under the scientific guidance of cellular biologist, Jose J. Minguell, Ph.D., the adult stem cells will 
be taken from the patient’s bone marrow in a simple outpatient procedure.  The cells will then be 
processed in TCA-CT’s GMP laboratory and administered to the patient by spinal tap in one of TCA-CT’s 
Louisiana facilities.

Recruitment for trial patients will commence in the next few weeks.  The company anticipates 
moving into Phase II within a year.

About TCA Cellular Therapy

TCA Cellular Therapy, a privately-held company located in Covington, Louisiana has assembled
 a team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, cell biologists, and pathologists to study some of the 
most debilitating neurological diseases including ALS and Spinal Cord Injuries.

For more information, contact (985) 867-4860; www.tcacellulartherapy.com.

About ALS Association LA/MS Chapter

The ALSA Louisiana Chapter was founded in April, 2005 to serve the needs of those living with 
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and their caregivers.

The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS. The Louisiana Chapter covers all the bases — research, patient and community services, public education, and advocacy — in providing help and hope to those facing the disease.

For more information on the ALS Association LA/MS Chapter, contact (225) 343-9880 or (800) 891-3746;
www.alsalams.org