Project EVIDENCE: A living network meta-analysis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) clinical trials

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a serious condition that affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Approximately one to two in 100,000 people are diagnosed with ALS. Over time, ALS causes muscles to weaken, which can lead to difficulty moving, speaking, and even breathing. Unfortunately, ALS currently has no effective treatment, and it is a fatal disease. Despite many attempts, most clinical trials have not resulted in new treatments. However, these trials still hold important insights that can guide future research.

The goal of our project is to analyze and combine the results from previous ALS clinical trials to gain new insights that may help identify potential treatments. To do this, we will use a method called network meta-analysis (NMA). NMA allows us to combine data from various trials, which can reveal patterns and connections that individual studies might miss. This approach helps us look at whether certain patient groups responded better to treatments than others. By learning from the data of past trials, we hope to uncover important information about what factors influence how patients respond to treatments. With this information, we will be able to design better clinical studies and push closer to finding effective treatments for ALS.

In summary, our research aims to use advanced statistical techniques to analyze past clinical trials and identify key factors that could lead to a cure for ALS. By combining the data, we will help set the stage for more successful future trials.