The ALS Association and American Brain Foundation, in collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology, are proud to encourage promising young scientists like these to pursue ALS clinical studies through the annual Clinical Research Training Scholarship in ALS and Richard Olney Clinician-Scientist Development Award in ALS.  

2023 Awardees

Clinical Research Training Scholarship in ALS  
Marina Avetisyan, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital  
Uncovering Mechanisms of Cytoplasmic Double-Stranded RNA (cdsRNA)-Mediated Neurodegeneration in FTD/ALS Using Systems Pharmacology 

Richard Olney Clinician-Scientist Development Award in ALS  
Maurizio Grassano, M.D., University of Turin, Italy 
Exploring Sex-Specific Genetic Determinants and Causal Mechanisms in ALS

2022 Awardees

Clinical Research Training Scholarship in ALS 
Sanjana Shellikeri, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Validation of an Automated Pure Motor Natural Speech Assessment Tool in ALS-FTD and Lewy Body Spectrum Disorders  

Richard Olney Clinician-Scientist Development Award in ALS 
Frederick Arnold, Ph.D., University of California Irvine 
Alternative Polyadenylation in the Etiology and Pathogenesis of ALS 

2021 Awardees

Clinical Research Training Scholarship in ALS
Jonathan Brent, M.D., Ph.D., Northwestern University 
Activity and Regulation of ALS Causing Variants of Kinesin KIF5A 

Richard Olney Clinician-Scientist Development Award in ALS
Paul Sampognaro, M.D., University of California San Francisco 
Lysosomal Protease Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 

2020 Awardees

Clinical Research Training Scholarship in ALS 
Mehdi Ghasemi, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital 
Feasibility and Patient/Caregiver Satisfaction of Telemedicine Visits for ALS Management 

Richard Olney Clinician-Scientist Development Award in ALS
Collin Kreple, M.D., Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis
Examining the Role of ATM in Selective Vulnerability in ALS 

2019 Awardees

Clinical Research Training Scholarship in ALS  
Jennifer Marsella, M.D., University of Rochester
Improving Adherence to Non-Invasive Ventilation in Individuals with Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ADHERE NIV) 

Richard Olney Clinician-Scientist Development Award in ALS  
Suma Babu, M.D., MBBS, MPH, Massachusetts General Hospital
Spinal Cord Neuroinflammation and Atrophy in People with Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)- A Simultaneous [11C]PBR28 PET/MRI Study 

2018 Awardees

Clinical Research Training Scholarship in ALS 
Peter Creigh, M.D., University of Rochester  
Telemedicine in ALS Research: The Utility of Virtual Visits and Remote Outcome Measure Collection  

2017 Awardees

Clinical Research Training Scholarship in ALS  
Nicolas Olney, M.D., University of California San Francisco School of Medicine 
Cervical Spine Imaging and CSF Neurofilament Light Chain as Biomarkers in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 

Richard Olney Clinician-Scientist Development Award in ALS   
Sabrina Paganoni, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital 
Phase 2 Trial of Inosine in ALS 

2016 Awardees

Richard Olney Clinician-Scientist Development Award in ALS   
Lindsey Hayes, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Pharmacodynamic Biomarker Development for C9ORF72 Antisense Therapy 

Clinical Research Training Fellowship in ALS Research 
Cindy Ly, M.D., Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis  
Investigating Innate Immunity and Autophagy in TBK1-Associated ALS

2015 Awardees

Clinical Research Training Fellowship in ALS  
Hristelina Ilieva, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins School of Medicine 
Cerebro-Spinal Fluid Analysis in Patients with C9ORF72 Hexanucleotide Expansion

2013 Awardees

Clinical Research Training Fellowship in ALS Research 
Brian Wainger, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital 
Blocking Hyperexcitability and Improving Survival in ALS Motor Neurons

Richard Olney Clinician-Scientist Development Award in ALS  
James Berry, M.D., MPH, Massachusetts General Hospital  
Longitudinal Investigation of Activated Peripheral Blood Monocyte Counts and Gene Expression in Patients with ALS

2011 Awardees

Clinician-Scientist Development Award in ALS  
Steve Han, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital 
ALS Disease Modeling Using Motor Neurons Derived from Patient-Specific Stem Cells: Identifying Relevant Phenotypes Useful for Drug Discovery 

2009 Awardees

Clinician-Scientist Development Award in ALS  
Swati Aggarwal, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Selection Trial Design for Promising Therapeutics in ALS 

2008 Awardees

Clinician-Scientist Development Award in ALS  
Alice Chen-Plotkin, M.D., University of Pennsylvania 
Gene Expression in ALS-Spectrum Disorders: A Genome-Wide Approach 

2007 Awardees

Clinician-Scientist Development Award in ALS 
Ann Marie Wills, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital 
Clinical Correlation of Paraoxonase Activity with Genotypic Variation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 

2006 Awardees

Clinician-Scientist Development Award in ALS  
Michael Benatar, MBChB, Ph.D., FAAN, Emory University 
Towards the Design of a Clinical Trial to Prevent or Delay the Onset of Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis