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ALS research overview

Discover how ALS Quebec funds and supports leading-edge research on ALS in Quebec and Canada through the ALS Quebec Research Fund.

Research is a major source of hope for the ALS community in Quebec

ALS research is seeing unprecedented progress. More advances have been made in the last 10 years than in the previous 100. Researchers are optimistic that these discoveries will one day lead to successful treatments for ALS. 

Research is one of our most powerful levers for turning hope into concrete progress for people affected by ALS. We continue to support Quebec’s ALS research community, one of the most dynamic in the country, so it can keep up its momentum, driven by collaboration, innovation, and a shared purpose. 

The ALS research community in Quebec is among the best in the country. This active and passionate group of professionals inspires us with their dedication to better understanding and treating ALS. As we continue to build the ALS Quebec Research Fund governed and guided by an esteemed committee to channel donor dollars into the Quebec research community, we continue to contribute to the national ALS research program administered by the ALS Society of Canada to fund the most promising research nationwide. The fund will also support the next generation of ALS researchers through bursaries and travel grants with the goal to maintain and nurture research talent in Quebec and Canada. 

  • Since 2023, we have more than doubled our investment in ALS research in Quebec, from $273,641 to $550,216 in 2025. 

What are the strategic directions of the ALS Quebec Research Fund?

  • Collaborate with and complement existing resources, and avoid duplication. Continue to contribute to and add value to the national ALS research program administered by ALS Canada, in order to fund the most promising research nationwide.
  • Strengthen the next generation of researchers. Support early-career scientists and trainees to build long-term research capacity in Quebec. 
  • Support emerging talent. Provide targeted support to Quebec students and trainees to help them grow, connect, and stay engaged in ALS research. 
  • Advance clinical research and collaboration. Support initiatives that strengthen clinical research efforts, including strategic partnerships connecting Quebec sites to national research platforms such as CAPTURE ALS.
  • Knowledge mobilization and engagement. Support communications, events, and activities that foster dialogue, visibility, and collaboration within the ALS research community.

The members of our scientific committee

Guided by scientific expertise and informed by lived experience, they turn this collective commitment into concrete progress. 

Dr. Richard Robitaille, Ph.D.

Chair
Full Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Board Member of ALS Quebec and Member of the SMAC, ALS Canada

Dr. Geneviève Matte, M.D.C.M., FRCPC

Advisor
Neurologist, Director, ALS and Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, CHUM, Researcher, CRCHUM, Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Co-Chair of the Canadian ALS Research Network (CALS)

Dr. Chantelle Sephton, Ph.D.

Advisor
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Université Laval, Co-Chair of the SMAC, Board Member of ALS Canada, Member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of ALS Quebec

Dr. François Gros-Louis 

Advisor
Full Professor, Université Laval

André Besner

Vice President, Quality and Continuous Improvement, Trans Canada Forest Products and ALS Quebec Board member

Dr. Jean-Pierre Canuel

ALS Quebec Board member, living with ALS since 2014

A strong history of ALS research investment

We have:

  • Contributed annually to the ALS Society of Canada’s national research program, which invests in peer-reviewed research grants to unlock answers to the mysteries about the causes and progression of ALS and to support the development of promising therapies.
  • Hosted regular webinars that bring Quebec’s ALS research community together to connect professionally, update one another about their work and exchange ideas about the latest developments in ALS research.
  • Partnered with individuals and foundations to support their passion for ALS research and the promise it represents.
I believe with all my heart that ALS research is the single most important avenue for hope. Research has the power to help us better understand the causes, how to prevent ALS, and which treatments will be most effective for slowing the symptoms, prolonging life, and even curing the disease.
Dr. Jean-Pierre Canuel,
living with ALS since 2014
The day I visited Dr. Robitaille’s research lab with my wife, my son and daughter, and their partners, we didn’t know quite what to expect. The young doctoral and post-doctoral students each gave a detailed presentation, demonstrated their individual work under the microscope, and answered our questions with great care. I think what stood out most for me was their passion for the research. That really stayed with me. We could see these young researchers were pushing the limits to find solutions despite operating with very limited funds. I know we are in good hands! The challenge now is to secure more funding so we can really move the dial on ALS with new treatments and therapies.
Claude Lapierre,
living with ALS since 2016
We are increasing our understanding about ALS and improving scientific models and clinical trials at an unprecedented pace. I say to my students, ‘Think about who we’re doing this for. We must keep up the fight no matter what.
Dr. Richard Robitaille, Ph.D.,
Full Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal and member of ALS Quebec’s Board of Directors