Answer ALS, ALS TDI and Augie’s Quest are partnering on a first-of-its-kind remote research initiative
A coalition of top ALS organizations — Answer ALS, ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) and Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS — has announced the launch of Champion Insights, a groundbreaking research effort aiming to uncover why high-performing populations such as endurance athletes and military service members are disproportionately affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Champion Insights is the first ALS study of its kind to focus on genetic and metabolic patterns unique to these groups, building on research that suggests links between elite physical performance and increased ALS risk. The initiative will leverage remote-participation technology, allowing up to 500 individuals to contribute blood samples and clinical data from their own homes, broadening access to clinical research and eliminating traditional geographic barriers.
NFL veteran and ALS advocate Steve Gleason will be the program’s first participant, publicly challenging fellow athletes and service members to join the study.
“This is precisely the kind of science we can’t afford to overlook,” said Gleason.
The project is being launched in memory of Augie Nieto, the Life Fitness co-founder and fitness industry icon who raised over $200 million for ALS research before his passing in 2023. His wife, Lynne Nieto, now chairs Augie’s Quest and credits the fitness community with helping make this initiative possible.
With a focus on lipid metabolism and genomics, Champion Insights is designed to speed therapeutic discovery by targeting ALS pathways specific to those at elevated risk. Participant recruitment is set to begin in late November 2025.
