ALS Research Funding is At Risk – But You Can Help!
At the heart of Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon is an extraordinary team of scientists — all women, led by Dr. Bahareh Ajami.
Dr. Ajami and her team of six are studying one of the most promising theories in ALS immunology today — and we urgently need your help for research like this to continue.
As an immunologist, Ajami brings an outsider’s perspective to a field historically dominated by neuroscientists — and that’s exactly what makes her so effective. “Because I’m not from this field, I’m not afraid to ask questions others might consider settled,” she says. “It’s in that space — between disciplines — that breakthroughs can happen.”
Ajami’s lab is examining the role of immune cells in ALS. “We’re studying if brain immune cells turn toxic and contribute to killing neurons,” Ajami explains. “What turns them toxic? And if we can prevent that from happening, could we slow or even change the course of the disease?” In 2023, Ajami and her team discovered that Alpha5 integrin, a protein located on the surface of certain brain immune cells, is expressed in people with ALS. They are now investigating what happens to neurons as a result of Alpha5 integrin expression on brain immune cells.
In mouse models with ALS, the team has already found that suppressing Alpha5 integrin expression consistently increases lifespan. If the results continue to translate to human studies, it could mean an additional 3-4 years of life expectancy — a monumental leap for a disease currently without a cure. “This may become the first immunotherapy developed specifically for ALS,” says Ajami.
Ajami herself is no stranger to the personal impact of research — she previously participated in a clinical trial that changed her life as a cancer patient. “Research can save lives, but only if we invest in it,” she says.
"Progress is fragile. The funding must be consistent, or we risk losing momentum just when we’re getting close,” Ajami continues.
Ajami’s lab is also a nurturing ground for the next generation of ALS researchers, who happen to all be women. Each team member is learning not just how to run experiments, but how to ask bold questions, shape scientific narratives, and contribute to a field that urgently needs fresh minds and diverse voices.
“This is a rare environment where women can learn how to own their science,” Ajami says. “They’re learning how to build a hypothesis, pursue it independently, and make their work stand out. That’s how we grow the future of ALS research.”
The next phase of their work will focus on extending mouse lifespan even further and identifying therapeutic applications that could lead to clinical trials. As the team moves closer to real-world treatment possibilities, Ajami’s message is clear:
This is the moment to support ALS research — not later, not when it’s convenient, but now.
“This work doesn’t happen overnight,” she says. “But when it happens, it changes everything.”