How Can I Help?

Support Our Work

Your support plays a crucial role in advancing our research and spreading awareness about FTD/ALS.

Below are several ways you can contribute to our mission:

Make a Donation  


We welcome you to join us in radically transforming health for neurodegenerative diseases, including dementias and ALS. A gift to the Clelland Lab supports rigorous, high-risk, high-reward research—from investing in the talented researchers and essential technologies that power the lab to advancing the development, testing, and optimization of innovative gene-editing therapies and delivery approaches for patients. Your support can help accelerate the most promising discoveries and move them closer to therapies that could one day transform patients’ lives.  

Make a Gift Online

Your gift has an immediate impact when you make a donation online. Please visit this link to make a secure donation online to the Clelland Lab.

 

Make a Gift by Mail

 

Please make your check payable to the UCSF Foundation and include Clelland Lab (7031455) in the memo line of your check. To make a gift in memory of a special family member or friend, please include the individual's name on your check or in a separate note. Checks can be mailed to:

 

UCSF Foundation
PO Box 45339
San Francisco, CA 94145-0339

More Information

We also accept gifts by wire transfer or using stock or cryptocurrency. For more information about these options or to make pledges, planned gifts, bequests, matching gifts, named endowments, please contact Alyssa Snyder at [email protected] or (415) 770-1718.

Thank you for your interest in supporting the Clelland Lab.

 

Spread the Word  

Share our newsletter with your family and friends. 

We share a private newsletter 3-4 times per year with lab updates. This newsletter is primarily geared toward gene carriers, their families and other supporters of the Clelland lab. The distribution list is confidential. If you would like to receive our newsletter, please email: [email protected]

Follow us on BlueSky and share our updates to raise awareness.

Advocate for Funding 

Contact your Congressional representatives to support funding for research.

Here is a draft of the email/ transcript for your perusal.

“Dear Representative/Senator (Last Name of your legislator),
I am (your name), your constituent, and a patient/family member/member of the FTD/ALS/Alzheimer’s/Parkinson’s community (pick one as appropriate). I urge you to support increased federal funding and resources dedicated to advancing research on neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease. These devastating neurodegenerative conditions affect thousands of families across our nation, including (mention your connection, if applicable, e.g., "a loved one of mine who was recently diagnosed"). NIH funding enables life-saving breakthroughs and new treatments for this disease and others. We are all dependent on the work of the NIH to advance medical science and improve patient outcomes.

In addition to increasing biomedical funding, supporting federal initiatives that raise public awareness about neurodegenerative diseases, ensuring early diagnosis and access to resources for patients and caregivers is paramount. I believe your leadership on this issue would bring hope to countless families facing these diseases with courage and resilience. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I would be happy to provide additional information or to meet with you or your staff to discuss how we can work together to advance this cause.

Regards,
(Your name),
(Your contact information)”

The contact information of your members of Congress is available on their websites. You can find out your elected officials on the House and Senate websites.

Participate in Research 

Sign up for clinical trials using the links below.

Educate Your Community

Write a letter to your local newspaper to spread awareness. 

Organize a talk at your local community center.

Take Action for Brain Health

Learn about lifestyle changes you can make to support brain health:

  • Take an 'Awe Walk.' Experience the benefits of mindful walking by taking an "Awe Walk." Research suggests it can enhance well-being and support brain health.
    Read more here.
  • Walk 10,000 Steps a Day. Studies show that walking 10,000 steps daily can reduce the risk of dementia by 50%.
    Read more here and here.
  • Eat a Brain-Healthy Diet. Following a Mediterranean or DASH diet may help lower the risk of dementia.
    Read more here.
  • Control Your Blood Pressure. Tight blood pressure control (maintaining it below 140/80) protects both the brain and the heart. Talk to your doctor about managing your blood pressure.
    Read more research here.
    Read more here.

Why Your Support Matters

We understand that, at times, it can feel like your contributions are just a drop in the ocean, but every drop counts. Together, we can make tangible progress toward:

  • Purchasing new equipment like the digital droplet machine.
  • Supporting groundbreaking research projects.
  • Providing resources and salaries for talented trainees.

Thanks to contributions like yours, we recently purchased a Sunscreen lipid nanoparticle microfluidic device. The lab has been testing lipid nanoparticles by hand mixing them. Now we can do so now at scale, which will accelerate our delivery work.

Recognizing Your Contributions

We value every supporter. Please let us know how you would like to be recognized. Some of our supporters wish to remain anonymous. For fundraisers, we like to recognize your support by sharing:

  • A personal thank-you letter with a photo of the new equipment or team members you helped support.
  • A featured acknowledgment on our "Supporters Wall" or newsletter. 

Ready to Join Us?

Your help makes all the difference. Whether through donations, spreading awareness, or participating in advocacy, you’re an essential part of our team.