While on vacation and in Michigan, Julie and I were invited to see the ALS research being done at the Van Andel Institute. We met the project director and the post-doctorate researcher in charge of drug study. A friend of the family also works at the Institute and was aware of this research was nice enough to set up the meeting for us.
After arriving, I was amazed at the beautiful architecture and the size of the Institute including the cavernous entry and lobby area. We had lunch at the
Institute cafeteria which was more like fine dining. The researchers were so interested to be talking to an actual ALS patient. They
spend so much time in books and other research materials, that it is not often that they have the opportunity to visit, sit down and discuss what it is that they are working on all
day and are so passionate about understanding and curing. They listened carefully as I described in great detail the onset symptoms, how it progressed, what issues I cope with today and we even delved into a little bit of my history growing up, activities/hobbies and family.
In the lab, we were able to look at the SOD1 mice that they use to test various drug therapies. The researchers showed us how to tell the difference between “in stage" (mice with ALS symptoms) and unaffected younger mice. We were able to see slides that were prepared for microscopic study and also see mice spinal cords that are used for research. Not that I am a big laboratory animal fanatic, I say test more, but it was nice to learn that the mice are euthanized as soon as it becomes difficult for them to obtain food or water. An interesting fact that I had not thought about. Similar to what some humans are fighting for..?. but that's another story and not one that I support.
Anyway, I want to thank the staff for an incredible opportunity and Julie and I were so proud to see people hard at work trying to cure this awful disease. I figure it best that I don't use names as there may be some crazy mice lovers out there... :-)
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