Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Tissue Donation Program

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Despite significant progress in the identification of mechanisms involved in motor neuron degeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and other motor system diseases, the actual pathogenesis and cause of these diseases remains unknown. Effective treatment of these diseases are dependent on the elucidation of their causes. The availability of diseased and control human tissues will be a critical resource for this research progress. . Samples of serum, spinal fluid, and urine from patients with motor system diseases can be used to study biochemical and genetic differences compared to tissues of neurologic disease controls and normal controls. Furthermore, the availability of autopsied CNS, PNS, as well as other tissues from patients with ALS or suspected ALS are useful for current and future research studies into the disease. Therefore, we propose to institute a Tissue Bank containing blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid donated from not only ALS and other motor neuron disease patients, but also those with other neurologic diseases and normals whose tissue can be used as controls. In addition there will be an autopsy band for post-mortem specimens of ALS and other motor neuron disease patients. Each specimen, whether from a living patient or autopsy will be de-identified and accompanied by a standard set of clinical information collected from the medical records in order that each specimen is characterized with the relevant clinical information to maximize the usefulness of the specimens. Once established, this tissue bank will provide a resource in which a large number of samples will be readily available and expedite research by circumventing the delays in collecting specimens prospectively. These specimens will be used for research in the ALS Center of Hope at Drexel University College of Medicine and shared with any outside investigator with a valid IRB approved protocol.

Detailed Description
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Despite significant progress in the identification of mechanisms involved in motor neuron degeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and other motor system diseases, the actual pathogenesis and cause of these diseases remains unknown. Effective treatment of these diseases are dependent on the elucidation of their causes. The availability of diseased and control human tissues will be a critical resource for this research progress. . Samples of serum, spinal fluid, and urine from patients with motor system diseases can be used to study biochemical and genetic differences compared to tissues of neurologic disease controls and normal controls. Furthermore, the availability of autopsied CNS, PNS, as well as other tissues from patients with ALS or suspected ALS are useful for current and future research studies into the disease. Therefore, we propose to institute a Tissue Bank containing blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid donated from not only ALS and other motor neuron disease patients, but also those with other neurologic diseases and normals whose tissue can be used as controls. In addition there will be an autopsy band for post-mortem specimens of ALS and other motor neuron disease patients. Each specimen, whether from a living patient or autopsy will be de-identified and accompanied by a standard set of clinical information collected from the medical records in order that each specimen is characterized with the relevant clinical information to maximize the usefulness of the specimens. Once established, this tissue bank will provide a resource in which a large number of samples will be readily available and expedite research by circumventing the delays in collecting specimens prospectively. These specimens will be used for research in the ALS Center of Hope at Drexel University College of Medicine and shared with any outside investigator with a valid IRB approved protocol.

Official Title
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ALS Tissue Donation Program

Conditions
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Neurodegenerative Disease, Motor Neuron Disease

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosed with ALS or other motor system disorder including PLS, Bulbar Palsy or Motor neuropathy Diagnosed with other chronic neurologic illnesses (Alzheimers, multiple sclerosis, migraines, etc) Normal Controls In the case of spinal fluid collection, the patient will be undergoing a diagnostic lumbar puncture as part of the work-up Exclusion Criteria: Any person with a non-neurologic chronic and poorly controlled systemic illness

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| ALS<br>Diagnosed with ALS or other motor system disorder including PLS, Bulbar Palsy or Motor neuropathy | |
| Neuro<br>Diagnosed with other chronic neurologic illnesses (Alzheimers, multiple sclerosis, migraines, etc) | |
| Healthy<br>Normal Controls | |
| Autopsy<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| None Specified | No primary outcome measure is specified for this study. Purpose of the study is to collect deidentified biological specimens which will be used to expedite other IRB approved studies. | None Specified | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Cerebrospinal Fluid, Neurodegenerative Disease, Motor Neuron Disease, Autonomic Nervous System, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Movement Disorders