Department of Medical Genetics at Telemark Hospital is the home of Norway’s research program towards ALS and genetics, the GAIN study (Genetics of ALS in Norway). With links to all Norwegian ALS clinics, this study undertake research into clinical, genetic and molecular biology studies. Neurologists at ALS centres throughout Norway recruit individuals living with ALS into the study. The goal of the GAIN study is to increase our knowledge on the genetic aetiology of ALS in Norway, improve and increase the awareness of genetic diagnostic testing for ALS and facilitate inclusion of ALS patients into gene specific treatment trials. The GAIN study are partners in Project MinE, with the aim of including 1000 DNA samples from Norway.

Essential collaborators in the GAIN study and Norway’s Project MinE effort are two Norwegian ALS clinics with strong ALS research communities:

• The Neurology department at Akershus University Hospital perform research into epidemiology and environmental risk factors for ALS as well as molecular biological research in collaboration with Oslo University Hospital.

• The Neurology Department at Haukeland University Hospital and Neuro-SysMed is a centre for clinical treatment research studies on neurodegenerative diseases, in particular ALS. Currently more than 200 ALS patients have been included in the NO-ALS trial.

We would like to thank people with ALS and their families across the Norway for their participation in developing this important research resource.

The genetic analysis are funded by the patient organization ALS Norway, Telemark Hospital Trust and the South Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority