Bloomberg targets Lou Gehrig's disease

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NEW YORK, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- A donation of $25 million aims to streamline approaches to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, the U.S. donors say.

Daniel L. Doctoroff, chief executive officer and president of Bloomberg LP; David M. Rubenstein, co-CEO of The Carlyle Group; and Bloomberg Philanthropies said Target ALS is a $25 million three-year initiative to tackle ALS in a different way.

"While ALS scientists have made great progress in the last few years, their research too often occurs in silos, impeding discovery," Doctoroff said in a statement. "Target ALS will provide an organizational framework for the world's leading ALS researchers to share and coordinate their findings so that we can make progress toward therapies and a cure."

Target ALS is the second phase of an accelerated research initiative of Project A.L.S., a New York-based foundation focused on finding and funding a cure for ALS.

"Collaboration is essential to build on the real progress that's being made in the field of ALS research," said Michael R. Bloomberg, philanthropist and mayor of New York City. "I'm proud to join Dan and David to launch this innovative new project and bring together the scientific, academic, healthcare and business communities to stop this horrible disease once and for all."