Six newly Certified Centers join the organization's network of clinics and expand access to multidisciplinary care and research for people living with ALS.
The ALS Association announced the formal designation of theUCLA ALS Clinic and Research Center as its 100thCertified Treatment Center of Excellence®. This designation affirms the institute meets the highest quality of care in the management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
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ALS, often called Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive motor neuron disease that gradually robs people of their ability to walk, talk, swallow, and eventually breathe. With no known cause or cure it often leads to total paralysis and death within two to five years of diagnosis.
“The certification of the 100th ALS Association Certified Treatment Center of Excellence marks a significant milestone in expanding access to high-quality, specialized care for people living with ALS,” said Kim Maginnis, senior vice president, clinical programs and outreach at the ALS Association. “Our growing network ensures that more people living with ALS and families across the country can receive the highest standard of specialized care no matter where they live. This is a critical part of our plan to make ALS livable and cure it.”
Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence must meet established program requirements based on American Academy of Neurology Standards, including maintaining a collaborative relationship with the ALS Association, and being involved in ALS-specific, IRB approved research. This designation assures people living with ALS and their families that these centers offer the highest quality of evidence-based care and services.
The multidisciplinary care model brings together a team of specially trained health care professionals to collaborate and provide the most comprehensive treatment plan for people living with ALS. Research shows that this model of care helps people with ALS achieve a better quality of life and prolongs life in many cases. The ALS Association has a long history of supporting multidisciplinary care throughout the country.
“The care that people receive here is a model for other parts of the country and I'm proud that we are able to recognize UCLA ALS Clinic and Research Center for its outstanding multidisciplinary approach to treating people with this devastating disease,” said Nancy Wakefield, Managing Director of Care Services of the ALS Association.
“We are delighted to have met the requirements for becoming a Certified Treatment Center of Excellence and are thankful for continued support from the ALS Association in helping provide the very best care for people living with ALS in Los Angeles,” said Martina Wiedau, MD, ALS Clinic Medical Director of UCLA ALS Clinic and Research Center.
The following clinics have recently been designated as ALS Association Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence, joining the UCLA ALS Clinic and Research Center in this distinction:
— University of Colorado ALS Clinic
— UF Health Neuromedicine – Fixel Institute
— The University of Alabama at Birmingham ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic
— Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center
— University of Washington Center for ALS Care
To learn more about ALS Association Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence and Clinics and the multidisciplinary care model, please visit als.org/local-support/certified-centers-clinics.
About the ALS AssociationThe ALS Association is the largest philanthropic funder of ALS research in the world. The Association funds global research collaborations, assists people with ALS and their families through its nationwide network of care and certified clinical care centers, and advocates for better public policies for people with ALS. The ALS Association is working to make ALS a livable disease while urgently searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about the ALS Association, visit our website at als.org.
About ALSAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Over the course of the disease, people lose the ability to move, to speak, and eventually, to breathe. The disease is always fatal, usually within five years of diagnosis. Few treatment options exist, resulting in a high unmet need for new therapies to address functional deficits and disease progression.
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SOURCE The ALS Association
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