Assessment of Blood-Based Biomarkers Associated with Acupuncture Treatment in ALS

We are seeking ALS patients, diagnosed within the past 12 months, who are 18 years or older and weigh at least 132 pounds. Patients must be willing and able to provide informed consent and comply with study procedures. Please contact the TGen Clinical Research Coordinator to determine whether you qualify.

To participate in this study, patients will donate blood samples and agree to acupuncture treatments for approximately 8 weeks. A trained phlebotomist will schedule a time to come to your home to collect the blood samples each week, separate from your acupuncture appointments.

You will be asked to complete two types of short assessments each week. You will be asked to complete up to 9 ALSFRS-R assessments. You will also be asked to use a mobile app called SpeechAssess on a personal device to complete several short speech assessments. These will be requested three times per week for up to 10 weeks. Additionally, we will collect medical records including, but not limited to, current medications, lab tests and surgical procedures, as well as a medical history.

Blood samples from participants will be used to look for potential biomarkers.