Those afflicted with the deadly, degenerative neurological condition called Lou Gehrig’s disease could eventually bank their own stem cells for later treatment. That’s the hope driving new research funded by billionaire mall mogul and Pontiac native Alfred Taubman.

This week, Taubman announced a new collaboration between University of Michigan neurologist Dr. Eva Feldman, the director of the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute within the U-M Medical School, and Israeli doctor Benjamin Reubinoff of the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Billionaire philanthropist Alfred Taubman announced a new, privately funded collaboration between the University of Michigan and Israeli researchers that aims to advance understanding of the deadly degenerative condition known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS, is a neurological condition that robs its victims of their ability to speak, move and eventually breathe, while leaving their minds alert.

Taubman’s friend, long-time U.S. Sen. Jacob Javits of New York, died from the disease.

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