Clinical Research in ALS and Related Disorders for Therapeutic Development (CReATe)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease that involves progressive death of motor nerves in the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. The disease is closely related to disorders such as primary lateral sclerosis, hereditary spastic paraplegia, progressive muscular atrophy, and frontotemporal dementia. These diseases have shared genetic causes and underlying biology as well as a shared lack of effective therapies. The Clinical Research in ALS and Related Disorders for Therapeutic Development (CReATe) Consortium brings together a multidisciplinary group of researchers and a diverse array of patient advocacy groups to bridge the gap between basic scientists and investigators engaged in clinical-translational research. The goals of the CReATe Consortium are to advance understanding of the contribution of genetics to these complex disorders, promote development of biological features (biomarkers) that may enhance therapeutic development efforts, train a new generation of clinical scientists, and engage the public and scientific communities in partnerships that enhance clinical research and therapy development.

The Clinical Research in ALS and Related Disorders for Therapeutic Development (CReATe) Consortium is part of the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN), which is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and led by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) through its Division of Rare Diseases Research Innovation (DRDRI). CReATe is funded under grant number U54NS092091 as a collaboration between NCATS and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). All RDCRN consortia are supported by the network’s Data Management and Coordinating Center (DMCC) (U2CTR002818). Funding support for the DMCC is provided by NCATS and NINDS.