1. Riluzole approved (first FDA-approved ALS drug)
2. Ice Bucket Challenge raises $115M for ALS research
3. SOD1 discovered (first genetic link to ALS)
4. First documented ALS case (Dr. Charles Bell)
5. First clinical trials for ALS treatments begin
3 -
4 -
5 -
What is a Stem Cell?
1. Embryonic Stem Cells - Ethics
2. Adult Stem Cells - Bone Marrow
3. Differentiate / Self Renew
4. iPSCs - Act as Embryonic SC
6 -
Who gets the treatment?
1. 42 years old Can still walk and talk ALS diagnosed 6 months ago Stem cell therapy might slow progression
2. 68 years old Paralysed On ventilator ALS for 7 years Stem cell therapy may have limited effect
7 -
8 -
9 -
10 -
11 -
12 -
13 -
If you were diagnosed with ALS today and had the option to receive an experimental stem cell treatment that is promising but not fully tested, what would you do?
1. Yes, I’d take it immediately, there’s no time to wait.
2. I’d wait until more research is done, even if it takes years.
3. No, I’d prefer traditional treatments with known results.
4. I’d only do it if it was government-approved and fully covered by healthcare.