Department of Veterans Affairs Establishes DNA Bank for ALS

September 29, 2004

Department of Veterans Affairs Establishes DNA Bank for ALS

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is developing a DNA bank associated with the National Registry of Veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  The Registry is an effort to enroll all living veterans with ALS and to collect data that will aid in future studies of the causes and treatment of ALS.  The Registry began enrolling patients in April 2003 and plans to enroll approximately 1,800 participants in a 3-year period.

The new DNA Bank will involve the collection and storage of DNA and plasma from blood samples provided by ALS Registry participants.  The principal investigator for this project is Eugene Z. Oddone, MD, MHSc.  The samples will be available for studies that examine genetic factors associated with ALS.  ALS researchers will be able to request access to the DNA samples in this bank, as well as the clinical data that have been collected from participants.

The Registry’s Scientific Review Committee will examine all studies that request use of these data.   Dr. Lucie Bruijn, Science Director and Vice President of The ALS Association, is a member of the Committee for the National Registry of Veterans with ALS. 

For information, please visit the Registry website at www.va.gov\durham\alsregistry.asp, or contact the Registry at 877-342-5257 or by email at als@med.va.gov.

For additional information about ALSA’s collaboration on this project, visit:  http://www.alsa.org/news/article.cfm?id=243

Contact:
Jeff Snyder
The ALS Association
(818) 587-2220
jeff@alsa-national.org