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Muscular Dystrophy Association Supports National Launch of Champion Insights Study to Investigate ALS Risk in Fire Fighters and Other High-Performance Populations

NEW YORK, NY, Tuesday, February 4, 2026 – The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) announced its support of the nationwide launch of Champion Insights, a new research initiative designed to understand why high performance groups including fire fighters and other first responders, elite athletes, and military veterans face higher rates of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Through a $200,000 grant aligned with MDA’s more than seven decades of partnership with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), this funding ensures that fire fighters are included and represented in this study at a meaningful scale.

Champion Insights, led by Answer ALS, Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS, and the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), has officially begun collecting participant blood samples using an innovative at-home collection model. Former NFL player and ALS advocate Steve Gleason served as Participant #1 and completed his sample from home, helping to kick off today’s national rollout.

The Champion Insights study is enrolling up to 500 participants nationwide who represent high-performance groups with a documented elevated ALS risk. Eligibility extends to fire fighters and first responders, elite and professional athletes, military veterans, and other high-performance people living with ALS who meet the study criteria.

Since 1954, fire fighters have powered MDA’s mission through Fill the Boot fundraisers and other initiatives. By supporting Champion Insights, MDA is advancing research that reflects the lived experiences of fire fighters and first responders while helping accelerate progress for every community affected by ALS.

“Champion Insights moves us closer to the answers families have been waiting for,” said Sharon Hesterlee, PhD, President and CEO of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. “By helping ensure that fire fighters and other high-performance groups are represented in this work, we are strengthening the science that will lead us to better treatments and, ultimately, cures.”

Participants contribute entirely from home through an at-home blood collection kit and an online clinical survey. This design eliminates typical research barriers like travel and clinic scheduling and opens the door for eligible people across the country to participate regardless of location or mobility.

MDA’s long partnership with the IAFF strengthens outreach to ensure fire fighters have a clear entry point into this work. Combined with support from Axe ALS, founded by former NFL player and firefighter Eric Stevens, the study is now positioned to analyze environmental, genetic, and lifestyle factors unique to first responders and other high-performance groups.

Researchers have long observed higher ALS incidence among people whose professions or athletic careers demand significant physical exertion. Champion Insights is designed to pinpoint the biological signals behind this increased vulnerability by analyzing genetic traits, lipid metabolism patterns, and lifestyle exposures.

Scientific leadership includes Fernando Vieira, M.D., CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of ALS TDI, Clare Durrett, Managing Director of Answer ALS, and Shannon Shryne, Co-founder and President of Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS.

Champion Insights is enrolling eligible participants now at ChampionInsights.org. For questions about participation or criteria, email Enroll@ChampionInsights.org.

Media contact press@mdausa.org.

About Muscular Dystrophy Association

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has been at the center of progress for people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and over 300 other neuromuscular conditions for 75 years. We unite researchers, clinicians, advocates, and families to speed the pace of discovery, improve access to expert care, and ensure inclusion in every aspect of life. Our mission is simple: give the people we serve the tools and opportunities to live longer, more independent lives. To learn more visit mda.org. Follow MDA on social media on Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

About the International Association of Fire Fighters

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is the driving force behind nearly every advance in the fire and emergency services in the 21st century. With headquarters in Washington, D.C, and Ottawa, Ontario, the IAFF represents more than 350,000 full-time professional fire fighters and paramedics in more than 3,500 affiliates. IAFF members protect more than 85 percent of the population in communities throughout the United States and Canada. The IAFF is also one of the most active lobbying organizations in Washington, D.C. The IAFF Political Action Committee, FIREPAC, is among the top one-half of one percent of all federally registered PACs in the country.