The Internet's Biggest ALS Advocate Meets Columbia Researchers

https://players.brightcove.net/3455393369001/811d52b9-87a1-41ce-b849-ad7...

Tom Syndicate visits the Motor Neuron Center at Columbia and speaks with ALS researchers Dr. Serge Przedborski, Dr. Matthew Harms, and Dr. George Mentis.

Tom Syndicate is one of the internet's most famous video personalities. His video game playthroughs, comedy skits, and daily vlogs have attracted an audience of more than 15 million online video subscribers. He also happens to be one of the internet's biggest ALS advocates.

Tom's ice bucket challenge video—an online contest to promote awareness of the disease—was viewed by more than 3 million people. And last year in the name of motor neuron disease research, he ate pain-inducing ghost chilli peppers (rated at over 1,000,000 on the heat scale), leading to hilarious results, more than 5 million video views, and many donations. Overall, Tom has used the viral power of the internet to raise more than $300,000 for ALS research.

His passion for motor neuron disease awareness comes from a personal origin: Three years ago Tom's grandmother was diagnosed with ALS and passed away a year later. He later recounted his experience of losing a loved one to the disease during his ghost chilli campaign: "Throughout that two years I saw my Grandma's body slowly shut down around her, she was becoming unable to walk and unable to talk. It's the saddest thing I have ever witnessed because I would have done anything, absolutely anything to have helped her but sadly there was nothing that could be done." This tragedy sparked a lifelong commitment to supporting the search for a cure.

Earlier this year, Tom's journey led him to New York and Columbia's Motor Neuron Center. During his visit, he spoke with researchers working on the frontlines of the disease and discussed what progress scientists are making--and just what it will take to develop a treatment. To coincide with his visit, Tom produced a series of videos about the Motor Neuron Center and launched a crowdfunding campaign on Chideo. Proceeds from the campaign will support the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Interview with Dr. Diane Re on environmental factors and their relationship to adult-onset ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases:

https://players.brightcove.net/3455393369001/811d52b9-87a1-41ce-b849-ad7...

Interview with Dr. Hynek Wichterle on what motor neuron cell models can do for scientists exploring new drugs to treat neurodegenerative diseases:

https://players.brightcove.net/3455393369001/811d52b9-87a1-41ce-b849-ad7...

Watch Tom's ice bucket challenge: