This will be a 1.5-day highly interactive, multi-disciplinary workshop that maximizes the UC system-wide ALS expertise, bringing together university physicians, biomedical researchers, engineers, and computational scientists, at all career levels, with Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratory colleagues, and colleagues across industry, ALS funding organizations, patient advocacy, and PALS/CALS (people living with ALS and caregivers of ALS) to address ALS challenges and opportunities at scale, and to collaborate across disciplines to accelerate research and development efforts for ALS. 

Throughout the 1.5-day meeting, we will hear from a keynote speaker, DOE national laboratory experts, attendee Lightning Talks, caregiver of/persons living with ALS panel, Industry and Funding organization sessions, networking breaks, and discussions to explore collaborations and grant funding opportunities.

The workshop/networking/discussion sessions will be open for public sharing of information (only non-confidential information). We look forward to you joining us as we build new cross-disciplinary ALS interactions and explore potential new collaborations.

This event is by invitation only.

AGENDA

Day 1, Thursday, May 14, 2026

10:30 AM          

OPTIONAL session         

Grant discussion opportunity to explore potential collaborations with attendees (NIH, DOD CDMRP, CIRM, ALS Network, Target ALS, etc.)

11:15 AM           

Arrival – Registration and networking – early lunch 

12:00 PM 

Welcome

Namita Goyal, MD

Professor of Neurology, Director of ALS Clinic, UC Irvine (UCI)

M. Betul Gundogdu, MD

Chief, Neuromuscular Division, Co-Director ALS Clinic, UC San Diego (UCSD)

Nanette Cunningham Joyce, D.O., M.A.S. (Nancy Wakefield)

Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, UC Davis (UCD)

Jill Goslinga, MD, MHP

Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, UC San Francisco (UCSF)

Cathy Lomen-Hoerth, MD, PhD

Richard K. Olney Distinguished Endowed Professorship Professor of Clinical Neurology Chief, Neuromuscular Division Director, ALS Center at UC San Francisco (UCSF)

Martina H. Wiedau, MD

Professor of Neurology, Director ALS Clinic and Research Center, UC Los Angeles (UCLA)

12:10 PM

Conversation Starters: Meet & greet

12:20 PM

Purpose and Vision Statement

Amy Gryshuk, PhD, 

Associate Director, Strategic Alliances, UCSF Innovation Ventures                        

Nick Fischer, PhD, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, 

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

12:25 PM  

Keynote: Presentation title: Identifying drug repurposing candidates for ALS through analysis of electronic health records

Richard J. Reimer, MD

Professor, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Chief of the Neurology Service for the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Health Care System

1:25 PM

BREAK

1:50 PM

Converging Minds: Driving Research and Development Through Strategic

Partnerships

Moderator: 

Aleksandra Kijac, PhD, 

Strategic Alliances and Business Development Manager, UCSF Innovation Ventures

Panelists: 

Casper Hoogenraad, PhD, 

VP Neuroscience, Research Biology, Genentech

Antoine Snijders, PhD, 

Division Leader, Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, LLNL

Sally Allen, 

Executive Director, Livermore Lab Foundation

Mark Hettick, 

Co-Founder, Precision Neuroscience

2:50 PM

Lightning Talk Session – limited selection

Moderator: Jeremy Gleick, LLNL

3:50 PM

Open Discussion

4:00 PM

BREAK & Group Photo

4:15 PM

Lighting Talk Session – limited selection

Moderator: Jeremy Gleick, LLNL

5:15 PM

Open Discussion

5:25 PM

Summary from Day 1 – Planning and Prep for Day 2

5:30 PM

Adjourn

6:00 PM

Poster session with hors d’oeuvres & networking at Purple Orchid Winery

Registered participants only

7:00 PM         

Dinner at Purple Orchid Winery (7:00-9:00 PM)

Registered participants only

There will be poster awards from ALS Network's Barber Research Awards for the top 3 posters

Day 2 – Friday, May 15, 2026

8:00 AM

Arrival – Registration and breakfast

There will be an ALS Documentary Screening – please join us during breakfast

ALS in the Media – LLNL – Dr. Priyadip Ray

9:00 AM

Welcome

9:05 AM

Conversation starters: Meet & Greet

9:15 AM

Summarized Findings from Day 1

9:20 AM

ALS Network’s Barber Research Award Announcement (top 3 posters)

9:30 AM

BREAK – Barber Award pictures

10:00 AM

Caregiver of and Persons Living with ALS Panel Perspective

Moderator: 

Monica Ravanello, PhD, 

Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships and Licensing, UCSF Innovation Ventures

Panelists:

David Buseck

Kelsey Homyk

Roderick Malloy

Amy Sowerwine

Karen Sutton

11:00 AM

BREAK

11:20 AM

Message from the LLNL Director

11:30 AM

Driving Discovery: Navigating ALS Funding

Moderator: 

Amy Gryshuk, PhD, 

Associate Director, Strategic Alliances, UCSF Innovation Ventures   

Panelists:

Amy Easton, PhD, 

Target ALS

Srikanth Ranganathan, PhD, 

Program Director, Division of Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Dementia, and Repeat Disorders Group, NINDS, DHHS

Sheri Strahl, MPH, MBA, 

President & CEO, ALS Network

Chan Lek Tan, PhD, 

Senior Science Officer, Scientific Programs and Education, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, CIRM

Nancy Wakefield, 

ALS Association

Dana Watt,

Breakout Ventures

12:30 PM

Open Discussion

12:45 PM

Survey/Questions/Feedback

12:50 PM

Closing Remarks and Adjourn Meeting (some attendees may be departing)

1:00 PM

Adjourn Meeting/LUNCH & continued networking

OPTIONAL session – Grant discussion opportunity to explore potential collaborations with attendees (NIH NINDS, CDMRP ALSRP, CIRM, ALS Network, Target ALS, etc.)

2:00 PM

Departure around 2:00 PM

DIRECTION

Event Site

University of California Livermore Collaboration Center

GPS Address: 2500 Greenville Road B661, Livermore, CA 94550

Lodgings

La Quinta Inn by Wyndham:

7700 Southfront Road, Livermore, CA 94550

(925)-373-9600

Fairfield Inn & Suites Livermore:

220 N Greenville Rd, Livermore, CA 94551

(925) 800-5787

Courtyard by Marriott:

2929 Constitution Dr., Livermore, CA 94551

(925) 243-1000

DoubleTree by Hilton:

720 Las Flores Road, Livermore, CA 94551

(925) 443-4950

TRANSPORTATION/DIRECTIONS

A rental car and carpooling are the recommended methods of transport. Public transportation

is available, but may not be sufficient.

From Oakland Airport (Recommended)

*No tolls*

Follow signs for 880 S towards San Jose

Exit to I-238 towards 580 E Stockton/Fresno

Follow 580 E for 20 miles, until Livermore exits appear. Exit 55 for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Exit 50 for the above listed hotels.

From San Jose Airport

*No tolls*

Follow signs for 880 N towards Oakland for 8 miles. Exit to CA-262 towards Sacramento/680.

Follow 680 towards Sacramento for 17 miles.

Exit towards 580 E/Stockton.

Follow 580 for 11 miles, until Livermore exists appear. Exit 55 for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Exit 50 for the above listed hotels.

From San Francisco Airport

$ toll on the return trip, but no toll on the outbound trip* Follow signs for CA-92 E/Hayward for 13 miles.

Exit towards 880 N/Oakland and follow for 3 miles.

Exit towards I-238 S/Stockton/580 E.

Follow 580 for 20 miles, until Livermore exits appear.

Exit 55 for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Exit 50 for the above listed hotels.

Public Transit Options

Wheels is the local bus system website, and can help plan trips from starting to end points. Most buses don't accept cash, you can pay by card on the bus or through the website or the

Transit App.

The "30R" bus route runs from the North Canyon Pkwy/Constitution Dr. bus stop near above

listed hotels to the lab, every 15 minutes.