Here’s an inside look at the incredible work of the Live Like Lou Foundation over the past quarter. Enjoy updates from our volunteers and researchers, and check out how our donors help us leave ALS better than we found it in honor of our namesake and baseball Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig and the more than 30,000 people living with Lou Gehrig’s disease across North America.

We are honored to announce the Live Like Lou Foundation’s 2024 Postdoctoral Fellowship recipients. Gregory Mohl, PhD, from the University of California, San Francisco, and Carlo Scialo, MD, PhD, from the University of Zurich, were each selected to receive $75,000 per year in direct funding for up to two years to pursue a novel, independent, and promising ALS investigation. This Live Like Lou research grant aims to support scientists in the early stages of postdoctoral training at an R1-level (or equivalent) institutional research laboratory.

• Dr. Mohl’s project, High throughput CNS lipid nanoparticle discovery platforms for ALS gene editing, seeks to determine if CRISPR gene editing in patients with C9orf27 can reverse or prevent ALS from occurring and how to deliver this technology safely to patients.
• Dr. Scialo’s project, Identify modifiers of TDP-43 aggregation uptake, cell-to-cell spreading and loss of function, investigates how toxicity increases and the loss of function in TDP-43 progresses through a cellular seeding platform. By unraveling the important link between aggregation and loss of function, the goal is to establish the chronological sequence of these two events.

Read more about these promising researchers and their Live Like Lou-funded projects. 

“I might’ve been given a bad break, but I’ve got an awful lot to live for…” Lou Gehrig deliveredthis inspirational speech 85 years ago this month, just weeks after his ALS diagnosis. And yet, all these decades later, there are no meaningful treatments for ALS or a cure. This is why our work with Live Like Lou is timely and important. Through our investments in emerging ALS research, support of ALS families, and work to generate awareness for Lou Gehrig’s disease, we are inspired by Lou's bravery, humility, courage, and deep sense of gratitude in the face of what had to be profound sorrow for all that he lost and all he was about to face. He is why and how we live like Lou.

Live Like Lou welcomed over 1,000 friends to seven ballparks in June to celebrate MLB's Lou Gehrig Day. From San Francisco to Atlanta, our community came together to honor the legendary Lou Gehrig, recognize MLB baseball players with the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, and surprise local ALS families on the field. Check out our full recap of this year's Lou Gehrig Day celebrations.

We're thrilled to have hosted our biennial ALS Research Symposium at the University of Michigan, bringing together 115+ ALS researchers for a few days of learning and collaboration. Together, we're making strides in ALS research and leaving ALS better than we found it! Check out the highlights from the event, featuring research talks, an ALS community event featuring a trivia competition, poster sessions, and more. 

A special thank you to our Symposium host, Sami Barmada, PhD, at the University of Michigan, for hosting this year's event.

As we wrap up this quarter’s In the Dugout, we reflect on an incredible few months of progress, activity, and devotion for Live Like Lou. Here are just a few of the many additional highlights of what we’ve been up to:

• Don’t miss the last two MLB games of the summer, where Live Like Lou will honor the ALS community:
  • Cleveland Guardians | Monday, August 26; use code: LLL2024 for tickets.
  • Colorado Rockies | Saturday, September 14; ticket link coming soon!
• We’re pleased to welcome Maycee Wilkie as our Social Media Intern for our signature workout, The Lou. We’re excited to have her join the team. 
• Live Like Lou invites you to join Lou's Crew! Inspired by Lou's crew of exceptional teammates and those that wrapped their arms around the Iron Horse upon receiving his fatal ALS diagnosis, you too can promote ALS awareness, raise money for Live Like Lou, and leave ALS better than you found it. Raise $444 during the calendar year and earn a well-deserved spot as a proud member of Lou's Crew. Are you up for the challenge? Join Lou's Crew today!
• Phi Delta Theta works to leave ALS better than they found it in honor of their Fraternity brother, Lou Gehrig. From hosting fundraisers to supporting ALS families, they make a significant impact. In fact, their 2023-24 academic year fundraising total surpassed $1.22 million! Do you know a college student who could be a great addition to Phi Delta Theta's membership? Recommend a student.

We’ll be back in touch in a few months with even more good news. Thank you for being interested in the Live Like Lou Foundation and our work to leave ALS better than we found it.