Kevin Gosnell, founder of ALS ONE, passed away on Monday because of complications from the disease. Gosnell was diagnosed with ALS in spring 2015 and immediately put his business acumen and CEO leadership skills to work, convening the best minds in the ALS community. He founded ALS ONE in January 2016 and brought together leading neurology experts and care specialists from Massachusetts in partnership to leverage their institutions’ strengths to expedite progress toward finding a treatment for ALS within the next four years.

Partners in the initiative include The ALS Association, ALS Finding a Cure Foundation, ALS Therapy Development Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, UMass Medical School and Compassionate Care ALS.

“Kevin’s vision became a reality with the launch of ALS ONE earlier this year. His legacy will be advancing research while simultaneously working to improve the care model for persons living with ALS and their families,” said Barb Newhouse, President and CEO of The ALS Association.

Lucie Bruin, Ph.D., M.B.A., Chief Scientist of The ALS Association, and Stephen Winthrop, a member of The Association’s National Board of Trustees, both serve on ALS ONE’s Board of Directors.

“To say that I am saddened and hit hard by this news is a vast understatement,” said Winthrop. “I and many people living with ALS like me have been strengthened and inspired by Kevin’s impact upon our lives. If I'm not around to see the upcoming wave of breakthroughs, other people alive today will be. And Kevin’s name will be high on the list of people credited with contributing to those breakthroughs.”