A Nonprofit ALS Research Institute
We were founded by a family with ALS, and our research is funded by the ALS community.
About Us About Us
A Nonprofit ALS Research Institute
We were founded by a family with ALS, and our research is funded by the ALS community.
Founded by a Family
Stephen Heywood was diagnosed with ALS at age 29. After finding no treatment options, his brother, Jamie Heywood, realized that a gap existed in the preclinical development of therapies for ALS.
In 1999, Jamie founded the ALS Therapy Development Foundation, now the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), in the basement of his family's Newton, MA home in an effort to bridge this gap and bring effective treatments to people with ALS as quickly as possible.
Heywoods now
The Heywood family visiting our labs in 2019.
Heywoods then
The original "lab" founded in 1999 in the Heywood family's basement.
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Though my father did not live to see it, he truly believed that by uniting the community, and working together to fund research, we could find a cure for ALS. Today, his legacy is alive in the ALS Therapy Development Institute and their relentless work to end ALS.”
— Alex Heywood, son of Stephen Heywood, ALS TDI co-founder
Fueled by Our Community
We are the Drug Discovery Engine for ALS. The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) is the largest drug discovery institute in the world focused solely on finding treatments for ALS.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit biotech, we answer only to the ALS community. ALS TDI is funded by people with ALS and their friends and families – because they believe that our scientists will discover the treatments needed to end it.
We are united in one shared mission – to ensure that everyone with ALS has access to effective treatments.
Tony did a lot of research, when he was able to, about who to donate to and who to partner with, and he felt strongly that because of Jamie Heywood and his situation with his brother, they were also as motivated as he was.”
— Walter Tucker, brother of Tony Tucker who lived with ALS for 18 years
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Get to Know Us
donations fuel our work
Donations Fuel Our Work
87 cents of each dollar donated goes toward finding treatments at ALS TDI.
Charity Navigator and Candid have awarded ALS TDI their highest ratings.
dedication powers our team
Dedication Powers Our Team
From our staff to our board of directors, ALS TDI is led by a driven community of scientists, fundraisers, supporters, and people with ALS who share an unwavering commitment to ending ALS.
als tdi is open to you
ALS TDI is Open to You
Take a look inside the ALS TDI labs to learn why ALS TDI is the Drug Discovery Engine for ALS and see how our science teams are working to invent and discover new ALS treatments.
Milestones Over the Years
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