Learn more about Chris and support his fundraiser on GoFundMe.com

Christopher Murarik has spent most of his life serving his community. When he was younger, he was active in 4-H, worked as a special education aide, and coached youth swimming. Later, he went on to a career in the military and law enforcement, including time as a member of the New Jersey Army National Guard and a K-9 Officer with the Morris County, New Jersey, Sheriff’s Office.

Earlier this year, at the age of 40, Chris received the devastating news that he had been diagnosed with ALS. Like many people in his situation, one of his first actions was to start a fundraising page on the website GoFundMe. However, continuing his commitment to community service, he decided that he wasn’t going to raise money for his own needs and care, knowing he had a strong support system in place through the military and law enforcement. Instead, he dedicated his fundraiser to helping everyone living with ALS, asking his supporters to contribute to research to end the disease at ALS TDI.

Then, something incredible happened—as word about Chris and his story spread throughout his community and beyond, his GoFundMe sailed past his initial goal. Today, through little more than word-of-mouth, his fundraiser has generated over $60,000 for ALS research.

Today, on Endpoints, Chris joins us to talk about his story, why he chooses to support ALS research, and what it’s meant to see his community rally around him after a lifetime of service.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/standing-patch-to-patch-in-the-fight-against-als">Learn more about Chris and support his fundraiser on GoFundMe.com</a>
Christopher Murarik has spent most of his life serving his community. When he was younger, he was active in 4-H, worked as a special education aide, and coached youth swimming. Later, he went on to a career in the military and law enforcement, including time as a member of the New Jersey Army National Guard and a K-9 Officer with the Morris County, New Jersey, Sheriff&rsquo;s Office.
Earlier this year, at the age of 40, Chris received the devastating news that he had been diagnosed with ALS. Like many people in his situation, one of his first actions was to start a fundraising page on the website GoFundMe. However, continuing his commitment to community service, he decided that he wasn&rsquo;t going to raise money for his own needs and care, knowing he had a strong support system in place through the military and law enforcement. Instead, he dedicated his fundraiser to helping everyone living with ALS, asking his supporters to contribute to research to end the disease at ALS TDI.
Then, something incredible happened&mdash;as word about Chris and his story spread throughout his community and beyond, his GoFundMe sailed past his initial goal. Today, through little more than word-of-mouth, his fundraiser has generated over $60,000 for ALS research.
Today, on Endpoints, Chris joins us to talk about his story, why he chooses to support ALS research, and what it&rsquo;s meant to see his community rally around him after a lifetime of service.

The Endpoints Podcast features guests from the ALS community, including people living with ALS, researchers, advocates and fundraisers. Each episode cuts to the chase with short, digestible conversations about the latest research at ALS TDI and the most closely watched ALS clinical trials as well as stories from people living with ALS with their thoughts on research, healthcare and their journey with ALS.

The Endpoints Podcast is hosted by the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) the world's foremost drug discovery lab focused solely on ALS. ALS TDI is a non-profit biotech with one mission. End ALS.

To access all episodes of the Endpoints Podcast, visit als.net/endpoints.

The <a href="https://www.als.net/endpoints/">Endpoints Podcast</a> features guests from the ALS community, including people living with ALS, researchers, advocates and fundraisers. Each episode cuts to the chase with short, digestible conversations about the latest research at ALS TDI and the most closely watched ALS clinical trials as well as stories from people living with ALS with their thoughts on research, healthcare and their journey with ALS.
The Endpoints Podcast is hosted by the <a href="https://www.als.net">ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI)</a>&nbsp;the world's foremost drug discovery lab&nbsp;focused solely on ALS. ALS TDI is a non-profit biotech with one mission. End ALS.
To access all episodes of the Endpoints Podcast, visit als.net/endpoints.

Endpoints

The ALS TDI Endpoints Podcast features guests from the ALS community, including people living with ALS, researchers, advocates and fundraisers. Each episode cuts to the chase with short, digestible conversations about the latest research at ALS TDI and the most closely watched ALS clinical trials as well as stories from people living with ALS with their thoughts on research, healthcare and their journey with ALS.

The Endpoints Podcast is hosted by the ALS Therapy Development, the largest drug discover center focused solely on ALS. Visit our website and register to access all Endpoints Podcast episodes.

The ALS TDI Endpoints Podcast features guests from the ALS community, including people living with ALS, researchers, advocates and fundraisers.&nbsp;Each episode cuts to the chase with short, digestible conversations about the latest research at ALS TDI and the most closely watched ALS clinical trials as well as stories from people living with ALS with their thoughts on research, healthcare and their journey with ALS.
The Endpoints Podcast is hosted by the <a href="https://www.als.net">ALS Therapy Development</a>, the largest drug discover center focused solely on ALS. Visit our website and register to <a href="https://www.als.net/endpoints/">access all Endpoints Podcast episodes.</a>

Endpoints Podcast

Chris Murarik: How the Law Enforcement and Military Communities Rallied Around One of their Own

Johnny Rodriguez always asked a lot of his body. He played multiple sports in high school and college and then went on to a seven-year career in professional lacrosse—a lifestyle that kept him in elite physical condition. In 2023, at the age of 35, he was working as a high school lacrosse coach, expecting his first child, and still working out every day when he received a shocking diagnosis of ALS.

Johnny says he has always wondered whether the toll his participation in elite athletics took on his body influenced his condition. That’s why he jumped at the chance to join the Champion Insights study. Champion Insights, a collaboration between Answer ALS, Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS, and ALS TDI, aims to investigate why certain groups—including elite athletes, first responders, and military personnel—appear to get ALS at higher rates than the general population.

Today, on Endpoints, Johnny joins us to share his story, his Champion Insights experience, and why it’s important to him to participate in research.

Johnny Rodriguez always asked a lot of his body. He played multiple sports in high school and college and then went on to a seven-year career in professional lacrosse&mdash;a lifestyle that kept him in elite physical condition. In 2023, at the age of 35, he was working as a high school lacrosse coach, expecting his first child, and still working out every day when he received a shocking diagnosis of ALS.
Johnny says he has always wondered whether the toll his participation in elite athletics took on his body influenced his condition. That&rsquo;s why he jumped at the chance to join the Champion Insights study. Champion Insights, a collaboration between Answer ALS, Augie&rsquo;s Quest to Cure ALS, and ALS TDI, aims to investigate why certain groups&mdash;including elite athletes, first responders, and military personnel&mdash;appear to get ALS at higher rates than the general population.
Today, on Endpoints, Johnny joins us to share his story, his Champion Insights experience, and why it&rsquo;s important to him to participate in research.

Johnny Rodriguez: Participating in Champion Insights as an Athlete with ALS

Nobody knows ALS better than people living with the disease. Therefore, it’s crucial for scientists to utilize the perspectives of people with lived experience in their research.

Earlier this year, ALS TDI joined with Her ALS Story—a group of women diagnosed with ALS before the age of 35—to put on a series of Town Hall webinars that highlighted the importance of this connection. The three-part series featured discussions about ALS risk factors, lesser-known symptoms, and stories of diagnosis. In each session, researchers from ALS TDI’s ALS Research Collaborative, or ARC Study, presented information about our current scientific understanding of each topic, while Her ALS Story members shared their own personal experiences.

Today, on Endpoints, we’ll hear some highlights from each episode of the series. We’ll also be joined by Dr. Danielle Boyce, ALS TDI’s Principal Investigator, Real World Evidence, and Alan Premasiri, our Director of Clinical Operations, to discuss what they learned from the discussions and how conversations like these can help shape the way they approach their research.

If you'd like to learn more about ALS TDI's research and how we are incorporating lived experience to advance research, consider attending the ALS TDI Summit on October 17th, 2025 in Boston, MA or online. Register here: https://fundraise.als.net/alssummit/

Nobody knows ALS better than people living with the disease. Therefore, it&rsquo;s crucial for scientists to utilize the perspectives of people with lived experience in their research.
Earlier this year, ALS TDI joined with&nbsp;Her ALS Story&mdash;a group of women diagnosed with ALS before the age of 35&mdash;to put on a series of Town Hall webinars that highlighted the importance of this connection. The three-part series featured discussions about ALS risk factors, lesser-known symptoms, and stories of diagnosis. In each session, researchers from ALS TDI&rsquo;s ALS Research Collaborative, or&nbsp;ARC Study, presented information about our current scientific understanding of each topic, while Her ALS Story members shared their own personal experiences.
Today, on Endpoints, we&rsquo;ll hear some highlights from each episode of the series. We&rsquo;ll also be joined by Dr. Danielle Boyce, ALS TDI&rsquo;s Principal Investigator, Real World Evidence, and Alan Premasiri, our Director of Clinical Operations, to discuss what they learned from the discussions and how conversations like these can help shape the way they approach their research.
If you'd like to learn more about ALS TDI's research and how we are incorporating lived experience to advance research, consider attending the ALS TDI Summit on October 17th, 2025 in Boston, MA or online. Register here:&nbsp;<a href="https://fundraise.als.net/alssummit/">https://fundraise.als.net/alssummit/</a>

Your Story, Our Science: Her ALS Story and ALS TDI Bring Together Science and Lived Experience

Brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs, aim to enable people to control various adaptive devices directly with their thoughts. There are many BCI devices currently in various stages of development, with the potential to help people with ALS and similar conditions across many different activities of daily life.

One particular area in which BCI devices may be able to support people with advanced ALS symptoms is communication. Many people with ALS rely on devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops to write or speak. All tools like these, collectively known as augmentative and alternative communication or AAC devices, need some kind of input to work. 

This could mean using a keyboard, a touchscreen, or, for people with advanced paralysis, an eye-gaze device. As ALS progresses, however, even eye gaze devices may become difficult for some people to use. BCIs—by allowing people to control AAC devices with their minds—could be a potential solution to this problem. 

Today, on Endpoints, we’re joined by two experts to discuss BCI technology and, in particular, its potential to help people with ALS continue to communicate.

The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent official endorsements by any organization. Kate Nilsen currently serves as an advisor to Synchron, a company developing a brain-computer interface (BCI) device. This device is investigational and is currently in clinical trials approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For those interested in staying informed about Synchron’s ongoing work and updates, please join the Synchron community: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/4239f747/ca21cbCpKkOSLI5ZXNqTdQ?u=https://www.synchronbci.com/StayConnected.html

Brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs, aim to enable people to control various adaptive devices directly with their thoughts. There are many BCI devices currently in various stages of development, with the potential to help people with ALS and similar conditions across many different activities of daily life.
One particular area in which BCI devices may be able to support people with advanced ALS symptoms is communication. Many people with ALS rely on devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops to write or speak. All tools like these, collectively known as augmentative and alternative communication or AAC devices, need some kind of input to work.&nbsp;
This could mean using a keyboard, a touchscreen, or, for people with advanced paralysis, an eye-gaze device. As ALS progresses, however, even eye gaze devices may become difficult for some people to use. BCIs&mdash;by allowing people to control AAC devices with their minds&mdash;could be a potential solution to this problem.&nbsp;
Today, on Endpoints, we&rsquo;re joined by two experts to discuss BCI technology and, in particular, its potential to help people with ALS continue to communicate.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent official endorsements by any organization. Kate Nilsen currently serves as an advisor to Synchron, a company developing a brain-computer interface (BCI) device. This device is investigational and is currently in clinical trials approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For those interested in staying informed about Synchron&rsquo;s ongoing work and updates, please join the Synchron community:&nbsp;<a href="https://link.edgepilot.com/s/4239f747/ca21cbCpKkOSLI5ZXNqTdQ?u=https://www.synchronbci.com/StayConnected.html" data-linkindex="4" data-ogsc="">https://link.edgepilot.com/s/4239f747/ca21cbCpKkOSLI5ZXNqTdQ?u=https://www.synchronbci.com/StayConnected.html</a>

Chris Murarik: How the Law Enforcement and Military Communities Rallied Around One of their Own

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