ALS Clinic

We are the only clinic of its kind in the region, we serve as a one-stop-shop of highly experienced providers in the field. Our team is committed to improving quality of life and delivering the highest quality care to patients with motor neuron diseases.

Hear Dr. Gwathmey talk about our ALS clinic and what makes it special.

Multidisciplinary and comprehensive care for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease)

We provide comprehensive care to patients with ALS and other motor neuron diseases. Our multidisciplinary team is an experienced and dedicated team of experts in neurology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nutrition, respiratory therapy, social work, research, nurse navigation and genetic counseling to help you along your journey.

In addition to becoming the patient’s “home base” as they navigate the disease, our clinic provides disease-specific treatments and symptom management. We assist with obtaining necessary equipment and setting up additional therapies.

Access to clinical trials and resources

As a Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) clinic, it is a priority to provide clinical trial opportunities to our patients. We also partner with the ALS Association and Muscular Dystrophy Association to connect our patients to appropriate resources.

Clinical Trials 

Courage-ALS - Active and Enrolling
Courage-ALS is a Phase 3, double-blind, randomized, dose-ranging, placebo-controlled, parallel group study of reldesemtiv in patients with ALS. Reldesemtiv is a troponin activator that is designed to make weak muscles contract more forcefully. Reldesemtiv is an oral medication.
Learn more about Courage-ALS

The Phoenix Trial - Closed to Enrolling
The Phoenix Trial is looking at the efficacy of AMX0035 in adult patients diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). This is a double-blind randomized study (patient will either get Placebo or AMX0035). This is an oral therapy.
Learn more about The Phoenix Trial

Healey Platform Trial - Active and Enrolling (Regimen E)
The Healey Platform Trial tests several promising ALS therapeutics in parallel under a master clinical trial protocol. This platform allows more access to clinical trials, more options for patients, less patients receive placebo, and helps find an effective treatment sooner than traditional clinical trials. VCU Health will be participating in the Pridopidine study. This is an oral, sigma-1 receptor agonist that increases motor neuron survival.
Learn more about then Healey Platform Trial.

ALS/MND Natural History Consortium – Active and Enrolling
The ALS/MND Natural History Consortium is conducting a natural history study at 10 academic centers in the United States and Europe. Over 1,500 people living with ALS are currently enrolled in this study.
Learn more about the ALS/MND Natural History Consortium

Primary Lateral Sclerosis Natural History Study - Active and Enrolling
VCU will be participating in the Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) Natural History Study. This study will study the disease progression of patients with PLS.

No clinicaltrials.gov posting yet.

Learn about Harper's Hope - our program to expand access and resources for Virginians living with ALS.

Support Groups

Care giver support group will meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month, 3-4pm via zoom.

Our longstanding ALS clinic support group remains unchanged, meeting the 4th Thursday of each month from 3-4pm via Zoom.

If you would like to be included in the monthly invitations, please send an email to our clinic social worker, Anne Shields at margaret.shields@vcuhealth.org.

Meet Our Team

Kelly Gwathmey, MD, Chair Neuromuscular Medicine Division; Assistant Professor, Dept. of Neurology
Qihua Fan, MD, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Neurology
Michelle Gebhardt, Nurse Navigator
Paula Brockenbrough, Respiratory Therapist
Rebecca Rhodes, Registered Dietitian
Kiera Berggren, Speech Language Pathologist
Amanda Butler, Physical Therapist
Ashley Moneymaker, Occupational Therapist
Anne Shields, Social Worker
LaVon Smith, Clinical Research Coordinator
Kim Claytor, Clinical Research Coordinator
Chelsea Chambers, Genetic Counselor