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Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS
October 2026 newsletter
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In this month’s newsletter, the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS is thrilled to welcome three new faculty members. These talented clinician-scientists play a key role in delivering expert, personalized care for people living with ALS while accelerating the development of new treatments.
Collaboration is integral to our work, and we are excited about a new research collaboration with Dr. Francisco Quintana from the Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Quintana’s lab is investigating whether a process known as “inflammatory memory” in brain cells contributes to ALS. This pioneering research could ultimately lead to new therapies for ALS and other neurological diseases.
Our partnerships extend far beyond the walls of the Healey & AMG Center. Today marks the start of the Annual Network of Excellence for ALS (NEALS) Meeting. This pivotal event brings together researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, government and foundation partners, and people living with ALS from around the world to discuss the latest advances in ALS research and care. Several of our team members will present on a range of topics.
As we look to the months ahead, we are grateful for the partnership of our entire ALS community, which inspires us to keep moving forward until we find a cure.
Warmly,
Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSc
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New collaboration explores how the brain's "immune memory" may contribute to ALS
Researchers in the Quintana Lab at the Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital campus, are teaming up with the Healey & AMG Center for ALS to investigate whether a process known as “inflammatory memory” in brain cells contributes to ALS. Led by Francisco Quintana, PhD, this project builds on recent findings from his lab showing that certain brain cells called astrocytes can retain a memory of past inflammation or infection. This lingering memory may trigger exaggerated inflammatory responses later in life, potentially contributing to neurological diseases.
| | We are excited to welcome 3 new faculty members to the Healey & AMG Center for ALS! Read more about each of our new doctors below. | |
Mark Levine, MD
Dr. Mark Levine earned his medical degree from Stony Brook University and completed his residency in Neurology at Emory University School of Medicine. He then completed his clinical fellowship in Neuromuscular Medicine at Mass General Brigham. Before attending medical school, Dr. Levine was a clinical research coordinator at the Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI) at Mass General Brigham from 2014 - 2017. We are thrilled to welcome him back.
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Kellen Quigg, MD, MSc
Dr. Quigg received her medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed her residency and fellowship in Neurology at the University of Michigan and served there as a clinical instructor. Her research interests include clinical trial design, access to care, and social determinants of health in ALS. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Quigg back to the NCRI, where she worked as a clinical research coordinator from 2014 - 2016.
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Sarah Smith, MD, PhD
Dr. Smith is joining the department as a Clinical Instructor in the division of ALS and Motor Neuron Diseases with a secondary appointment in the division of Neuromuscular Disorders. Dr. Smith received her MD and PhD degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, followed by her neurology residency and neuromuscular fellowship at Mass General Brigham. Her clinical interests include the care of patients with motor neuron disease and electrodiagnostic medicine. Along with her clinical roles, she will be continuing her work in Dr. Andrew Stern’s lab developing novel biomarker technology for use in ALS.
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Functional Activity of TDP-43: A Direct Biomarker for ALS
TDP-43 dysfunction is a hallmark of ALS, but there is not yet a biofluid biomarker that directly measures its functional activity.
In this study published in Biosensors, the team from NemDx together with researchers from several institutions including the Healey & AMG Center for ALS collaborated to develop a serum-based assay that measures TDP-43 RNA binding activity. They analyzed 1080 serum samples and found that TDP-43 functional activity was elevated in ALS versus controls.
While further validation is needed, this work represents the first proof-of-concept platform for measuring TDP-43 activity and may help advance the development of ALS biomarkers.
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Emergencies in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
In this paper published in Muscle & Nerve, Healey & AMG researchers reviewed medical emergencies in ALS. Early recognition and proactive management of these emergencies can improve safety, reduce hospitalizations, and support goal-concordant, patient-centered care.
| | In September, Chris Johnson’s high school alma mater, Olympia High School organized a special fundraiser in his honor benefiting the Healey & AMG Center. Students and community members gathered on campus in Florida for a weekend of football and fundraising. Festivities included a football game, community walk, Ice Bucket Challenge, and more. We are so grateful to the CJ Strong community for coming together in support of Chris and ALS research. | |
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Gail Berg's bike ride
On September 19, Gail Berg rode 62 miles on bike to raise funds and awareness for ALS in honor of her friend Gregg. Gail has raised over $4,000 for the Healey & AMG Center in Gregg’s name. Thank you for riding and raising funds to support ALS Research, Gail!
| Phoenix Gala: A Night of Luminary Stars | |
Join us on November 20th at the Rise Against ALS Phoenix Gala: A Night of Luminary Stars, presented by Superior Rail & Iron Works - where we'll gather to shine a light on all impacted by the disease and all working so hard to cure it. This evening of purpose and hope will be hosted by Duke Castiglione - WCVB Boston Lead Sports Anchor, and will feature cocktails, dinner, dancing, a speaking program with research and care updates, raffles, auctions, and live music by Beware of Dogs, a Boston-based band who will play some of the biggest hits of the decades.
Proceeds will partially benefit the Healey & AMG Center for ALS.
| | Annual Network of Excellence for ALS (NEALS) Meeting | | |
Today, October 28th, is the start of the Annual Network of Excellence for ALS (NEALS) Meeting in Clearwater, Florida. Several of our Healey & AMG team will present at the conference on a variety of topics, ranging from preclinical lab work to innovative clinical trial design and results.
Yesterday, many of our team members helped lead trainings on clinical trials and research, including the “Clinical Research Staff Training & Development Workshop” and “Site Investigator Training.” Our team also led committee meetings on research, palliative care, imaging, data, and technology. Today, we held the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial and Healey ALS MyMatch study meetings. We look forward to more meetings and presentations during the next few days.
View the full NEALS Meeting agenda
| | BUSPH Biostatistics Distinguished Alumni Award | |
Congratulations to Lori Chibnik, PhD, MPH on receiving the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) 2026 Biostatistics Distinguished Alumni Award!
The annual award recognizes an alum from any graduate-level biostatistics program at Boston University whose career embodies SPH’s core purpose to “Think. Teach. Do. For the health of all.” This includes notable contributions to the field, such as publishing peer-reviewed articles, teaching and mentoring the next generation of biostatisticians, and doing work that impacts underserved populations.
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L.I.F.E Foundation Grant
Congratulations to Jennifer Morganroth, MD, MBA on receiving a grant from the Local Initiative for Excellence (L.I.F.E) Foundation for her project, "Building Scalable AI-Enabled Clinical Trial Infrastructure in ALS and Myasthenia Gravis"!
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At the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, we are advancing promising therapies while continually advancing the comprehensive, compassionate care we provide to people living with ALS and their families. Philanthropic support gives our clinicians and researchers the flexibility to pursue new discoveries, expand innovative programs, and respond to the evolving needs of the ALS community.
Every gift makes a difference. Whether through a personal donation, a transformational contribution, a community fundraiser, or another creative way of supporting, philanthropy fuels progress and helps move our mission forward.
Together, we are working toward a future with effective treatments and, ultimately, cures for ALS. We are deeply grateful to everyone who makes this work possible.
If you have questions or would like to learn more about the many ways you can support the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, please contact Emily Monteiro at Emonteiro7@mgb.org or visit our website.
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Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS.
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Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114
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