One-day conference focuses on ALS

Learn the latest developments on ALS and neuron repair at the fourth annual Les Turner Symposium.

The featured speaker will be Dr. Bryan Traynor, senior investigator at the National Institute of Aging. Traynor is known for his work aimed at understanding the genetic etiology of ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) often is called “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.”It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease,

The day also will include presentations by scientists from Chicago and throughout the Midwest.

It will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Lurie Medical Research Center, 303 E. Superior. It’s free, but participants are encouraged to make a donation to ALS research.

Discounted parking with validation is available at the Huron/St. Clair parking garage, 222 E. Huron.

For reservations, due Friday, email Shari Diamond (sdiamond@lesturnerals.org).

And if you are wondering: Les Turner was a suburban Chicago businessman. He was diagnosed with ALS in 1976 , started his namesake foundation the next year because of the lack of resources he could find about managing the disease. He died at age 38 in 1978.