Research Cores for Scientists

Fueling Discovery Through Open Access, Cutting-Edge Resources

At Target ALS, we remove the barriers that slow scientific progress. Our Research Cores, established in 2014, are purpose-built to give any scientist and/or clinician worldwide with an idea to advance ALS research, whether in academia or pharma/biotech, no-strings-attached expedited access to high-quality, standardized tools, data, and expertise.

Through new networks of worldwide academic centers and specialized contract research organizations, we provide access to genomics data, longitudinal biofluids, human postmortem tissue, stem cell lines, reagents, and animal models without restrictive agreements or prohibitive costs. Each Core is designed with and for scientists, enabling faster, more reproducible, and more impactful research.

Explore the Cores below to see how you can leverage these resources, connect with the experts behind them, and accelerate the path from idea to breakthrough.

6

Research cores

1800+

Projects supported

Icon

Genomics Core

Our network of CROs and academic institutions generate comprehensive ALS-FTD multi-omics datasets, including whole genome (short- and long-read) sequencing, RNA sequencing, and biofluid proteomics, paired with rich clinical and longitudinal data, accessible via the Target ALS Data Engine.

Icon

Longitudinal Biofluids Core

Target ALS supports a growing biorepository of longitudinal CSF, blood, and urine samples from people diagnosed with ALS and control participants enrolled in our global natural history study. These samples are stored at, and distributed worldwide from the Target ALS Repository at the Barrow Neurological Institute and are linked with de-identified clinical, demographic, and genomic data.

Icon

Human Postmortem Tissue Core

A repository of high-quality Central Nervous System (CNS) tissue (brain and spinal cord) from more than 500 cases, with a subset of muscle tissue from 90 cases, paired with rich clinical and demographic data. High-quality, fresh-frozen and fixed tissue samples are generated by expert pathology teams across 6 academic institutions.

Icon

Stem Cell Core

A growing repository of well-characterized iPSC ALS and control lines, isogenic controls, and reporter lines, generated by our partners at Columbia University, Jackson Laboratories and Columbia Stem Cell Core (Barbara Corneo and Hynek Wichterle). Lines are stored and managed by Sampled.

Icon

Reagents Core

A growing collection of validated monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, including C9orf72 poly(GP), Vacht, TDP-43, and pTDP-43.

Icon

Animal Models Core

We seek partners to develop innovative and well characterized ALS animal models These animal models are made accessible for in vivo proof-of-concept studies with no-strings-attached.We also aim to generate multi-omic datasets from these animal models which are shared openly to further accelerate drug discovery.

FAQs for Researchers

Target ALS Research Cores General FAQ

Stem Cell Core FAQ