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the brain and spinal cord that control
voluntary movement gradually degener-
ate. The loss of these motor neurons
causes the muscles under their control
to weaken and waste away, leading to
paralysis.
ALS manifests itself differently
depending on which muscles weaken
first. Symptoms may include tripping
and falling, loss of motor control in
hands and arms, difficulty speaking,
swallowing and/or breathing, and per-
sistent fatigue. A particularly cruel part
of the disease is that the mind is not
affected — while perhaps having diffi-
culty communicating, the ALS patient
is well aware of what is happening to
his or her body. The average medical
cost is more than $200,000 a year, in
part, says Rogow, because "patients
need so much medical equipment in
such a short period of time."

Little Hope

There is no cure for ALS; it is always
fatal. There is only one drug on the
market, called Rilutek, which is
approved to prolong the survival of the
patient. It is thought that Rilutek can
reduce damage to the motor neurons,
and extends the time the patient has
before needing ventilation support.
However, it does not reverse the dam-
age already done to motor neurons.
Rogow knew a little about ALS, but
when her father was diagnosed she felt
helpless. Her friends suggested she host
a fund-raiser to help raise money for'
research, so Rogow threw herself into
the project. During the planning, she
was introduced to Lisa Rosenberg,
whose father was also suffering from the
disease.
The women felt an immediate con-
nection. They were both attorneys,
both very close to their fathers, and
both felt compelled to try to make a
difference. The first fund-raiser generat-
ed $25,000. Now in its fourth year, the
event planners hope to surpass last
year's event, which raised nearly
$300,000. Titled ALS 2002: The
Ultimate Charity Auction and Gala,
presented by General Motors and
Homedics, this year's event will be held
Saturday, June 1, at the GM
Centerpoint Campus in Pontiac.
Rogow and Rosenberg have already
seen results from their efforts. From last
year's fund-raiser, they were able to
donate enough money so that the
University of Michigan could bring Dr.
Denise Figlewicz to work with Dr.
Feldman. Dr. Figlewicz is the researcher
who found the mutation in the gene
that causes familial ALS, which is the

hereditary form of the disease.
The other form of the disease is spo-
radic ALS. Patients with sporadic ALS
generally live longer, but it is unclear
why.
Dr. Feldman says her time with Dr.
Figlewicz was "a huge success. Our
research has been able to blossom with
her added input."
Recently, Dr. Figlewicz was offered
and accepted a tenured faculty position
at U-M, making her the first Ph.D.
tenured faculty member in the
Department of Neurology.
The funds have also helped the
researchers develop a way to screen new
drugs for ALS. They are conducting
tests on motor neurons of rats.
Dr. Feldman has screened 1,000
drugs from the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, and found 20 that look
promising. She is now re-screening the
drugs while continuing her work in
gene therapy, where she focuses on pro-
moting the cellular signals that stimu-
late re-growth of injured nerves and
muscles.
Most current treatments for ALS
make the patient more comfortable —
feeding tubes for patients unable to
swallow, speech devices, walkers and
wheelchairs. Dr. Feldman is determined
to change this.

.

Possible Breakthrough

Dr. Feldman is excited about the
research that can be accomplished with
additional funding. "If we can get
$100,000, there is new technology we
want to test," she says.
It would take samplings of ALS cells
found in the spinal cord by using new
laser technology.
Dr. Feldman wants to analyze indi-
vidual cells, and view the DNA and
proteins made by the cells. "For the first
time, we can look at the singe individ-
ual cells that are affected in ALS; this
could be the technological break-
through we have needed to understand
what causes the disease."
Other funds from last year's event
supported the national ALS Association
respite care program.
Dr. Feldman is inspired by the hard
work and energy demonstrated by
Rogow and Rosenberg. "They are an
amazing pair of women," says Feldman.
"Both have lost someone close to them,
but they continue to be totally commit-
ted to funding research to determine
the cause and cure [of ALS] to help
others."
The two have given up their law
practices to work full time on ALS
fund-raising. ❑

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ORCHARD LAKE ROAD SOUTH OF MAPLE WEST BLOOMFIELD

LI D EY DRASI N

.

On graduating . North Farmington
evements
We are so proud of all your
achi..
Good luck at Michigan State.
e e you
Ogla

5/17
2002

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