ALS Centrum Nederland

What ALS Centrum Nederland does

ALS Centrum Nederland is the designated national expertise center (expertisecentrum) for ALS (Amyotrofische Laterale Sclerose), PSMA (Progressieve Spinale Musculaire Atrofie) and PLS (Primaire Laterale Sclerose) in the Netherlands. Founded in 2013 and coordinated from UMC Utrecht in Utrecht, the center combines clinical care coordination, scientific research, healthcare professional education, and public knowledge dissemination for three rare motor neuron diseases. It serves the full Dutch patient population — approximately 500 people diagnosed with ALS per year, plus an estimated 100-200 PSMA and 100-200 PLS patients — through a national network of specialized multidisciplinary ALS treatment teams (ALS-behandelteams) located in rehabilitation centers across the country. Patients, families, caregivers, neurologists, rehabilitation specialists and allied healthcare professionals form the served audience, with patient referral flowing through the Dutch neurology system into the UMC Utrecht-coordinated expertise center.

The center's core product set comprises a Kennisbank (Knowledge Platform) covering disease symptoms, causes, treatment options and assistive devices; an ALS Zorgnetwerk (Care Network) connecting patients with specialized multidisciplinary teams; and the ALS Thuismeten & Coachen e-health platform for remote monitoring and coaching developed with patients and relatives. Supporting offerings include the Thuis-Als-Thuis.nl virtual house, the ALS Thuiszorgwijzer digital guide for home care workers, the GoALS multi-year research program aimed at finding a cure, the PLUS ALS PET-scanner research project, a regular newsletter, and Scholing (education/training) programs for healthcare professionals. Underpinning research infrastructure includes the ENCALS network (European Network to Cure ALS, chaired by Prof. dr. Leonard van den Berg) and the TRICALS trial consortium spanning 15 European countries, under which all clinical trials at the center run.

ALS Centrum Nederland is not a commercial revenue-generating entity. Operations are funded through the Dutch healthcare system via UMC Utrecht, research grants, and charitable donations channeled through partners such as Stichting ALS Nederland. It does not publish financial figures, has no public ownership or venture backing, and is not for sale in any conventional M&A sense — making this an institution rather than an investable commercial asset. The center's strategic priorities, articulated in Zorgvisie ALS 2030, center on future-proof care quality, patient autonomy, and international research collaboration, with the 2024 European Commission approval of Tofersen (QALSODY) for SOD1-ALS marking a notable milestone for the patient population it serves.

Name

ALS Centrum Nederland

Legal name

ALS Centrum Nederland

Website

https://als-centrum.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ALS Centrum Nederland is the designated Dutch national expertise center for ALS, PSMA and PLS, coordinated from UMC Utrecht. It combines clinical care coordination, scientific research, professional training, and public knowledge dissemination for the Dutch motor neuron disease patient population.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neuromuscular Disease Research and Care

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Diagnostic Imaging Centers (621512)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Neuromuscular Medicine (ALS, Myasthenia, Neuropathy) (HLAKAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA), Neurology Telemedicine Platforms (HLALAGAC)

Keywords

• ALS disease research
• Neuromuscular care coordination
• Multidisciplinary patient care
• Clinical trial research
• Medical expertise center

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ALS Centrum Nederland is the designated national expertise center (expertisecentrum) for ALS (Amyotrofische Laterale Sclerose), PSMA (Progressieve Spinale Musculaire Atrofie), and PLS (Primaire Laterale Sclerose) in the Netherlands. The center optimizes diagnosis, multidisciplinary care, and treatment for affected individuals; conducts scientific research toward effective treatments under programs such as GoALS and PLUS ALS; provides professional education, training, and quality improvement projects; and disseminates evidence-based information through its Kennisbank, e-health platform, and national care network of ALS treatment teams, all coordinated from UMC Utrecht.

Product overview

ALS Centrum Nederland is an expertise center for ALS, PSMA and PLS coordinated from UMC Utrecht. Its core offerings consist of a Knowledge Platform (Kennisbank) providing comprehensive information on disease symptoms, causes, treatments, and aids; an ALS Care Network (Zorgnetwerk) connecting patients with specialized multidisciplinary treatment teams across rehabilitation centres in the Netherlands; and an e-health platform called 'ALS Thuismeten & Coachen' for remote monitoring and coaching. Supporting services include the Thuis-Als-Thuis.nl virtual house tool for assistive device guidance, the ALS Thuiszorgwijzer digital guide for home care workers, the GoALS multi-year research program, the PLUS ALS research project, a newsletter, and education/training programs for healthcare professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GoALS: A multi-year research program aiming to achieve a breakthrough in curing ALS. Many ongoing studies within the ALS Center fall under GoALS.
• PLUS ALS
• ALS Thuismeten & Coachen
• Thuis Als Thuis

Products and services

• Kennisbank (Knowledge Platform) An online knowledge platform providing comprehensive information about ALS, PSMA, and PLS including symptoms, causes, treatment options, aids and assistive devices, care guidance, and research overviews for patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
• ALS Zorgnetwerk (Care Network) A national network of specialized ALS treatment teams (ALS-behandelteams) located in rehabilitation centers and hospitals throughout the Netherlands, coordinated by the ALS Centrum at UMC Utrecht. Teams include rehabilitation physician, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, dietitian, social worker, psychologist, clinical geneticist and ALS consultant.
• ALS Thuismeten & Coachen An e-health care platform developed by ALS Centrum together with people with ALS and their relatives, enabling remote health monitoring and coaching for patients at home, supporting decentralized care for people with motor neuron diseases.
• Thuis-Als-Thuis.nl A virtual house website launched by ALS Centrum that shows, in an accessible visual way, which assistive devices are available and how they can be applied in the home for people with ALS, PSMA and PLS to support independent living.
• ALS Thuiszorgwijzer A digital guide and website providing practical information for home care workers on caring for people with ALS, PSMA and PLS, developed in collaboration with home care nurses, patient associations, and ALS treatment teams.
• GoALS Research Program A large multi-year research program under which many ongoing studies at the ALS Centrum are conducted, aimed at achieving a breakthrough in curing ALS by investigating causes, diagnostics, treatment, and disease mechanisms.
• PLUS ALS Research Project A research project within ALS Centrum that utilizes a new type PET-scanner, in collaboration with UZ Leuven in Belgium, to study disease progression in ALS patients through advanced imaging.
• Scholing (Education and Training) Educational programs and training courses provided by ALS Centrum for healthcare professionals, home care workers, and caregivers covering ALS, PSMA and PLS care, symptom management, clinical guidelines, and multidisciplinary treatment approaches.
• Nieuwsbrief (Newsletter) A regular email newsletter keeping subscribers informed about research results, activities, news, and developments of ALS Centrum Nederland.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TRICALScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration between researchers, patient organizations, pharmaceutical companies and fundraisers from 15 European countries. All clinical trials at ALS Centrum are conducted under the TRICALS umbrella. Patients can register to be kept informed of new drug research.
• BiogencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmaceutical company that developed Tofersen (QALSODY), approved by European Commission for SOD1-ALS treatment. Conducted VALOR-study and provides early access program for patients.
• ENCALS (European Network to Cure ALS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research network coordinated by Prof. dr. Leonard van den Berg of ALS Centrum. Annual ENCALS conference brings together hundreds of ALS researchers.
• UMC UtrechtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain coordinating institution for ALS Centrum Nederland. Houses the ALS expertise center, neurology department, and main research activities.
• UZ LeuvenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian university hospital that acquired a new type PET-scanner being used in the PLUS ALS research project.
• Stichting ALS NederlandcoreOthersOrganizes and supports events and raises funds for scientific research into the cause and solution for ALS.
• ALS patiëntenverenigingcoreOthersPatient organization advocating for people with ALS, PSMA and PLS and their loved ones.
• Spierziekten NederlandcoreOthersBroad patient organization for all people with muscle diseases in the Netherlands. Offers courses including Spieracademie for patients and caregivers.
• Stichting ALS op de wegcoreOthersProvides equipment for people with ALS that falls outside regular insurance coverage, such as iPads, wheelchair vans, cars, walkers and tandems. Loans equipment to patients.
• Stichting PLSminorOthersRaises funds for scientific research into PLS and advocates for PLS awareness.
• ALS Treatment Teams (ALS-behandelteams)coreOthersSpecialized multidisciplinary teams in rehabilitation centers throughout the Netherlands, including rehabilitation physician, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, dietitian, social worker, psychologist and ALS consultant.
• Revalidatiecentrum VogellandenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRehabilitation center in Zwolle that developed a treatment table for saliva loss, mucus formation and dry mouth for ALS patients.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Robert Packard Center for ALS Research: US-based ALS research center at Johns Hopkins focused on finding treatments for ALS through basic and translational research. Comparable research-program model to GoALS.
• NEALS (Northeast ALS Consortium): US-based consortium coordinating ALS clinical trials and research across member sites. Comparable function to TRICALS, though primarily North American rather than European.
• Forbes Norris MDA/ALS Research Center: Specialized US ALS clinical research and care center combining multidisciplinary patient care with research. Closest US analog to ALS Centrum Nederland's combined care-plus-research model.

Direct peers

• ALS Canada: Canadian national ALS organization funding research, supporting patients and operating a clinical trials platform. Comparable national-coordinator model with research funding and patient services functions.
• MND Association: UK-based national charity coordinating research, care and advocacy for motor neuron disease (the international term for ALS). Highly comparable mission and structure to ALS Centrum Nederland, including a national care network, research funding role, and information platform.
• ALS Association (US): The largest US ALS non-profit, funding research, certifying ALS treatment centers, providing patient services and advocating for people with ALS. Closest direct international peer in scope and ambition, though operating at larger scale.
• ARSLA (Association pour la Recherche sur la SLA): French national ALS research and patient support association. Comparable role in France to what ALS Centrum Nederland plays in the Netherlands: research funding, patient advocacy, information dissemination, and partnerships with academic centers.

Regional players

• FightMND: Leading Australian ALS/MND research and advocacy foundation. Similar model of combining research funding, clinical trial support and public campaigns, but operating in a different geographic and regulatory context.
• Ligue SLA (Belgian ALS League): Belgian ALS patient association supporting patients and funding research, with close cross-border ties to the Netherlands. Adjacent regional peer sharing language and partial geographic overlap.

Others

• International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations: Umbrella organization linking ALS/MND associations worldwide, of which ALS Centrum Nederland is connected through its national partnership network. Comparable ecosystem-builder role at international level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDzgI4IZviHtWtEL0KMyIHA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/als-centrum
• Instagraminstagram.com/als_centrum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ALS Centrum Nederland