Enhancing ALS Care Through Genetics, Biomarkers, and Clinical Trial Readiness: Brian Lin, PhD

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“From my perspective, the [ALS] field is really evolving. It’s shifting more toward a model where understanding a patient’s genetic profile—and in many cases ALS is sporadic, where that profile can be less clear or harder to interpret—means that looking at dominant disease pathways can really help influence treatment decisions.”

The upcoming 2026 Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Clinical & Scientific Conference, considered the largest neuromuscular-focused clinical forum, will be held March 8–11 in Orlando, Florida. The 4-day meeting will feature track-based sessions in allied health, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), care trends, disease mechanisms, drug development, lab-to-life research, and neurology. Sessions will address topics such as diet and exercise management, adaptive equipment, gene therapy, emerging ALS therapeutics, health care policy, muscle regeneration, inherited neuropathies, and safety considerations. Furthermore, the program will include discussions on patient care approaches, case-based challenges, and early intervention strategies.¹

Within the broader program of the 2026 MDA Clinical & Scientific Conference, several sessions will specifically focus on ALS. These sessions include “From Genes to Pathways: New Frontiers in ALS Drug Discovery,” chaired by Bryan Traynor, MD, PhD, MMSc, FANA, FRCPI, FRCP; “Advancing ALS Therapeutics: Targets, Tools, and Trial Readiness,” chaired by Nicholas Maragakis, MD; and “ALS: Optimizing Care and Support,” chaired by Kelly McCoy Gross, RN. Collectively, these educational sessions will address developments in ALS research, therapeutic discovery, clinical trial preparedness, and approaches to care as well as support across the disease continuum.

Ahead of the conference, Brian Lin, PhD, research portfolio director at the Muscular Dystrophy Association, spoke with NeurologyLive^® to discuss the ALS sessions to be presented at the upcoming conference. Throughout the discussion, he described a shift toward more personalized approaches in ALS, where genetic profiling, and emerging biomarkers are helping clinicians and researchers better target therapies and assess treatment responses. Lin also highlighted improvements in clinical trial readiness across the ALS field, including coordinated patient registries, validated biomarkers, adaptive platform trials, and strong clinical networks.

REFERENCES
1. Agenda Announced for 2026 MDA Clinical & Scientific Conference Featuring Leading Speakers Dedicated to Groundbreaking Research and Clinical Achievements in Neuromuscular Disease. News release. Muscular Dystrophy Association. October 15, 2025. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.mda.org/press-releases/agenda-announced-for-2026-mda-clinical-scientific-conference