>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON"ARIZONA HORIZON," WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS THE RECORD NUMBER OF HEAT DEATHS IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

AND WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT MEDICARE'S OPEN ENROLLMENT.

AND BARROW NEUROLOGICAL INSTITUTE IS NAMED AS A NATIONAL MANAGER OF ALS RESEARCH.

THOSE STORIES MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOODGOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO"ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

.

FALL-LOT FROM DEBBIE ESKO ANNOUNCES SHE WILL NOT RUN.

AND ABE HAMMEDEH WHO LOST HIS RACE LAST YEAR ANNOUNCED HE WILL RUN FOR LESKO'S SEAT AND BLAKE MASTERS IS REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING A RUN.

OTHER POSSIBLE REPUBLICAN CONTESTER IN THE HEAVILY G.O.P DISTRICT INCLUDE KIMBERLY YEE AND BEN TOMA.

KYRSTEN SINEMA'S RUN FOR REELECTION MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ENHANCED TO REPLACE THE LATE SENATOR DIANE FEINSTEN.

SHE WAS AWARDED THIS BY LEADER CHUCK SURECHUCK SCHUMER WHO HAS REFUSED TO SAY IF HE'LL HER IN HEAT NEXT YEAR'S RACE.

>>> STILL NO SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

STILL NOT GETTING ENOUGH SUPPORT TO WIN THE JOB AND SOME REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THERE'S NO POINT IN JORDAN PUSHING AHEAD.

>> LOOK, IT'S CLEAR HE DOESN'T HAVE THE VOTES.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S UP TO HIM IF HE WANTS TO PUT IT TO A THIRD BALLOT.

I THINK HE'LL SEE MORE FOLKS DROPPING OFF ON A THIRD BALLOT.

THERE WAS A NET LOSS OF TWO.

THERE WERE FOUR PEOPLE WHO PREVIOUSLY VOTED FLIP AND I DON'T SEE THE OUTCOME CHANGING HERE.

>> Ted: ARIZONA'S REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ALL BACKED JORDAN FOR SPEAKER.

THOUGH, THAT MIGHT CHANGE IN SUBSEQUENT VOTES.

THE NEXT VOTE ISN'T EXPECTED UNTIL TOMORROW AT THE EARLIEST.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE A WAR-TIME VISIT TO ISRAEL AND TOLD OFFICIALS THEY HAD TO SUPPORT THEM IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HAMAS AND THEY WERE, QUOTE, NOT ALONE.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO HAD THIS MESSAGE.

>> JUSTICE MUST BE DONE.

I CAUTION THIS WHILE YOU FEEL THAT RAGE, DON'T BE CONSUMED BY IT.

AFTER 9/11, WE WERE ENRAVED ENRAVE ENRAGED.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF PALESTINIANS ARE NOT HAMAS.

HAMAS DOES NOT REPRESENT THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

>> Ted: INDEED, THE PRESIDENT TODAY ALSO SECURED AN AGREEMENT TO ALLOW FOOD, WATER, MEDICINE AND FUEL TO ENTER GAZA BY WAY OF EGYPT PROVIDED THAT THE HUMANITARIAN AID GOES TO CIVIL CIVILIANS AND NOT HAMAS.

>> THE PEOPLE OF GAZA NEED WATER, FOOD AND SHELTER AND TODAY I ASKED THE ISRAELI CABINET WHO I MET WITH FOR SOME TIME TO MORNING, TO ASSIST CIVILIANS IN GAZA AND THAT THE AID SHOULD GO TO CIVILIANS AND NOT HAMAS.

THEY CAN BEGIN TO MOVE FROM EGYPT TO GAZA.

LET ME BE CLEAR, IF HAMAS DIVERTS OR STEALS, THE ASSISTANCE, THEY WILL HAVE DEMONSTRATED ONCE AGAIN THEY HAVE TO CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND IT WILL END.

AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, IT WILL STOP THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FROM BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE AID.

>> Ted: THE PRESIDENT ALSO TODAY FULLY BACKED ISRAELI ASSERTIONS THAT A DAILY EXPLOSIONS THAT KILLED HUNDREDS WAS ROCKET FIRE BY PALESTINIAN FIGHTERS AND NOT AN ISRAELI ATTACK.

BUT DESPITE THOSE REASSURANCES, PROTESTERS TOOK TO THE STREETS IN A NUMBER OF ARAB COUNTRIES INCLUDING JORDAN WHERE THOUSANDS GATHERED NEAR THE EMBASSY AND THERE WERE REPORTS OF LARGE SCALE PROTESTS IN LEBANON AND TURKEY.

>>> THE MARICOPA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORTS 361 HEAT-ASSOCIATED DEATHS THIS YEAR WITH 238 DEATHS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

VARIETY OF FACTORS ARE IMPACTING THE FACTORS IN HEAT-RELATED DEATHS, BUT WHAT CAN AND SHOULD BE DONE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM?

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY STACEY CHAMPION, AN ADVOCATE FOR THE UNHOUSED.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.

>> Ted: THESE ARE RECORD NUMBERS, AREN'T THEY?

>> THEY ARE RECORD NUMBERS.

LAST YEAR MARICOPA COUNTY SAW 425 HEAT DEATHS AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT ABOUT 35% INCREASE AND THESE NUMBERS ARE ALWAYS PROBABLY AN UNDERCOUNT TO SOME EXTENT, TOO, AND JUST REMEMBER, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT MARICOPA COUNTY.

>> Ted: RIGHT.

SUMMERTIME TEMPERATURES, WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT'S ABOUT AND THAT HAS TO BE A FACTOR HERE.

>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS.

YES, WE SAW THE HOTTEST SUMMER ON RECORD IN NORTH AMERICA, ABSOLUTELY THAT PLAYED A ROLE IN THIS.

BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF EVICTIONS IN MARICOPA COUNTY AND WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF UNSHELTERED FOLKS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY AND IN THIS STATE WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOMES.

AND SO, I THINK THERE'S THIS KIND OF CREATION OF THE PERFECT STORM OF WHAT IS TRULY A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KIND OF GET ON BOARD WITH COMING UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS.

>> Ted: THE INCREASING HOMELESS, THE UNHOUSED ACCOUNTS FOR 44% OF TOTAL DEATHS.

DOES THAT NUMBER SURPRISE YOU IN ANY WAY?

>> NO, IT DOESN'T.

I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY HEAT HERE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF OUTDOOR WORKERS.

WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE CARS, WHO ARE JUST MOVING ABOUT DAY-TO-DAY.

SO IT KIND OF DOESN'T SURPRISE ME.

THESE ARE DEADLY KIND OF TEMPERATURES AND HEAT IS VERY MUCH A SILENT KILLER.

>> Ted: AND AGAIN, THESE HEAT-RELATED DEATHS, NOT ALL OF THESE ARE OUTDOORS.

>> NOPE.

>> Ted: THAT GOES BACK TO INFLATION, PEOPLE WITH AIR CONDITIONING, THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THIS AND KEEP IT ON, IT'S NOT WORKING AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF FACTORS.

>> RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS ABOUT 25% OF THOSE DEATHS OCCURRED INDOORS.

A LOT OF THOSE ARE OLDER FOLKS.

I HAVE HAD ONGOING RECORD'S REQUESTS WITH THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE FOR YEARS AND I READ ALL END OF THESE INVESTIGATOR REPORTS TO UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS, TO THINK KIND OF BETTER ABOUT SOLUTIONS.

AND A LOT OF THESE OLDER FOLKS, YOU KNOW, THEIR AC UNIT BREAKS AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY OVERNIGHT COOLING CENTERS HERE.

IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO GO TO A HOTEL OR YOU DON'T HAVE FAMILY HERE, WHAT DO YOU DO?

YOU'RE STUCK.

AND SO I THINK BROKEN AC'S AND THEN YOU SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE TURNING THEIR AC UNITS OFF MOST LIKELY TO TRY TO SAVE MONEY.

>> Ted: RIGHT.

>> AND THEY'RE NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW DANGEROUS THE HEAT IS AND HOW MUCH IT CAN IMPACT YOUR BODY AND KILL YOU.

>> Ted: AND I SAW SOME DEMOGRAPHICS HERE, THE 50 TO 54 AGE GROUP IS AFFECTED AND THAT'S STILL THE HIGHEST DEMO AND WHITE NON-HISPANICS, 58 PARTLY SUNNY.

58%.

WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM THOSE NUMBERS?

>> THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY OVER, LET'S SAY THE AGE OF 40, 45 WILL HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS MOST LIKELY.

I'M IN MY EARLY 50s.

MY YEARS OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND OF BEING OUT, I MESSED MYSELF UP LAST SUMMER.

AND HEAT IS CUMULATIVE ON YOUR BODY.

SO I COULD NOT BE OUT HOW I HAVE BEEN IN YEARS PAST THIS SUMMER BECAUSE I COULD FEEL HOW MUCH IT WAS IMPACTING ME.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF A DEMOGRAPHIC OF STILL WORKING FOLKS WHO ARE JUST GETTING STUCK IN THESE JOBS OR WHATEVER, WHERE THEY'RE EXPERIENCING THIS EXTREME HEAT PROBABLY FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME.

AND IT CAN KILL US.

>> NOT REALIZING IT'S CATCHING UP TO YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT AS YOUNG AS YOU USED TO BE.

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: MARICOPA COUNTY, THEY'RE DIRECTING FOR FUNS FUNDS AND IS IT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

WHAT NEEDS TO GET DONE HERE?

>> WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB STUDYING THE DATA AND TAKING SOLUTIONS TO WHERE PEOPLE ARE.

IF WE DON'T DO A BETTER JOB MEETING PEOPLE WHERE WE'RE AT, WE'LL SEE IT INCREASE.

I HATE BEING RIGHT, BUT I CALLED THIS AT THE BEGINNING THE YEAR BECAUSE I DID NOT SEE ENOUGH KIND OF PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS HAPPENING QUICKLY ENOUGH KNOWING WHAT ALL OF THESE OTHER ISSUES ARE THAT IMPACTS PEOPLE.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY CAN LOOK AT THE DATA AND KNOW THAT 25% OF THE PEOPLE DIED FROM HAVING BROKEN AC UNITS AND LET'S FIND SOME FUNDING AND LET'S GET BETTER WITH PSA'S.

LET'S GET HOTEL ROOM VOUCHERS.

LET DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW TO START PREPARING FOR NEXT YEAR WITH THE FOCUS OF BRINGING THOSE NUMBERS DOWN.

BECAUSE ANY POLITICIAN OR ANYONE RUNNING AROUND AND SAYING, OH, WE'RE SHARING BEST PRACTICES, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT BEST PRACTICES IF WE HAVE 35% MORE PEOPLE DYING FROM HEAT, PREVENTIBLE DEATHS, THAN WE DID LAST YEAR.

>> Ted: STACEY CHAMPION, ADVOCATE FOR THE IN-HOUSE AND HAS LONG BEEN ON THIS AND WE APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION AND SHARING THE INFORMATION FOR US.

LET'S HOPEFULLY SOMEONE FIGURES OUT WHERE TO GET THAT MONEY AND ASSISTANCE AND GET IT DONE.

>> AND IT'S EXPENSIVE TO NOT ADDRESS IT.

>> Ted: YES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, DETAILS ON MEDICARE'S OPEN ENROLLMENT WHICH IS NOW UNDERWAY.

>> Ted: MEDICARE'S OPEN ENROLLMENT GIVES A CHANCE UNTIL 2024.

MEDICARE ISSUES CAN BE CONFUSING AND TO HELP US MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL, WE WELCOME ALFREDO ALVAREZ AND ANJELICA HARO ON AGING.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

ENROLLMENT BEGINS THIS MONTH AND WHY THIS TIME OF YEAR AND WHY ONLY A FINITE TIME TO ENROLL?

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> THE OPEN ENROLLMENT STOPS FROM OCTOBER 15th TO DECEMBER 7th AND IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR WHERE YOU CAN MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR CORPORATE.

AND THE PERIOD IS EXACTLY SEVEN WEEKS, SO YOU CAN DECIDE -- MAKE CHANGES LIKE AN ADVANTAGE PLAN AND YOU DECIDE TO GO TO REGIONAL MEDICARE AND STAND-ALONE PLAN OR THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

YOU HAVE A REGIONAL MEDICARE AND YOU GO TO AN ADVANTAGE PLAN.

ALSO, YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR PLAN BECAUSE THE COSTS PLAYING DIFFERENT FOR NEXT YEAR.

THE PREMIUM WENT UP BECAUSE OF THE MEDICATION, THE DEDUCTIBLE, SO YOU NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PLAN, IF YOU CAN PAY THE PREMIUM.

THE ADVANTAGE PLAN IS THE SAME THING.

THE ONLY THING IS THEY DON'T HAVE PREMIUMS.

>> Ted: I WANT TO GET MORE INTO THAT.

ANJELICA, ARE YOU REQUIRED TO ENROLL IN MEDICARE IF YOU ARE 65 OR OLDER?

>> DEPENDING ON YOUR SITUATION WHICH CAN BE DIFFERENT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL.

FOR INSTANCE, IF SOMEONE IS 65 AND STILL WORKING OR IF THEIR SPOUSE IS STILL WORKING AND THEIR EMPLOYER HAS GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE THAT IS WITH AT LEAST 20 OR MORE INDIVIDUALS ON THE SAME PLAN, THAT MEANS THAT THE INSURANCE WILL BE PRIMARY AND MURDER WOULD BE SECONDARY.

SO EVEN IF THE INDIVIDUAL ENROLLS INTO A AND B, IT'S SECRETARY AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T PAY OUT MUCH.

IT GIVES THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THE BUSH YEARSBENEFICIARIES TO HOLD OFF AND GET A SPECIAL ENROLLMENT.

>> Ted: THE ORIGINAL PLAN, PART A, B AND D?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

PART A WHICH IS HOSPITAL INSURANCE, PART B, MEDICAL AND PART D IS PRESCRIPTION.

>> Ted: THAT'S SUCCINCT AND THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW, CORRECT?

>> WHEN YOU ENROLL IN MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, THERE'S TWO PARTS.

THE HOSPITAL COVERAGE AND MEDICAL INSURANCE.

THEY LEAVE IT OPEN SO YOU CAN SELECT YOUR OPTION.

THERE'S AN OPTION YOU CAN SELECT FOR YOUR COVERAGE.

>> Ted: SO I UNDERSTAND THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING CALLED MEDIGAP AND WHAT IS THAT?

>> MEDIGAP, THE PART A -- MEDIG MEDIGAP COVERS THE GAP THAT MEDICARE DOESN'T PAY.

WHEN YOU GO TO THE HOSPITAL, YOU HAVE A DEDUCTIBLE, THAT'S PART AMOUNT.

THAT IS PAID BY THE MEDIGAP.

WHEN YOU GO TO PART B AND YOU USE PART B, YOU HAVE A DEDUCTIBLE AND THAT IS NOT COVERED BUT ANYONE.

YOU HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET AND THEN MEDICARE STARTS PAYING 80% AND YOU MAY 20% PAY 20%.

>> Ted: IT HELPS WITH OUT-OF-POCKET?

>> YES.

>> Ted: THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE KNOWN AS PART C, HOLY SMOKES DO WE SEE A LOT OF THAT.

PEOPLE ARE INUNDATED WITH THAT STUFF, AREN'T THEY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND ACTUALLY, MEDICARE ADVANTAGE USED TO BE KNOWN AS "MEDICARE CHOICE."

THAT'S WHY IT'S KNOWN AS PART C SOMETIMES.

IT'S CONSIDERED TO BE AN ALTERNATIVE, A REPLACEMENT PLAN TO ORIGINAL MEDICARE AND OFFERED BY PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PREMIUM, COPAYS, NETWORKS FOR TOGETHERS AND SO FORTH THAT MAKE IT DIFFERENT THAN ORIGINAL MEDICARE.

>> Ted: IT BUNDLES ASPECTS OF A, B AND D BUT NOT ALL?

>> IT WILL BUNDLE A, B AND PART D, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS DEPENDING ON THE COUNTY BUT IN MOST CASES, IT PROVIDES ALL.

>> Ted: MENTALMEDICAL AND DENTAL?

>> THAT'S PROVIDED BY THE PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANY AND NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING GUARANTEED.

>> Ted: HOW OFTEN DO PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR PLANS?

>> THERE ARE MULTIPLE REASONS YOU'LL CHANGE.

ONE OF THE MANY REASONS IS COST.

SO IF THE COST WENT UP, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR A PLAN THAT IS MORE AFFORDABLE TO YOU.

AND IN CASE OF PART D, USUALLY YOU HAVE TO PAY A PREMIUM, A DEDUCTIBLE AND THEN PAYMENTS FOR THE MEDICATION.

THOSE FACTORS INCREASE EVERY YEAR.

SO THAT'S ONE FACTOR YOU LOOK FOR A CHANGE OF PLAN.

IF YOUR PLAN LEAVES THE AREA, SOME PLANS THAT NO LONGER CONTRACT WITH MEDICARE AND YOU NEED TO FIND A NEW PLAN.

>> Ted: YOU'RE OUT THERE ON YOUR OWN.

>> YES.

>> Ted: IT CAN BE CONFUSING AND A LOT TO GO OVER HERE AND WHERE SHOULD PEOPLE GO TO CALM DOWN AND GET A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY IMMEDIATE TO DO?

>> SOME MAY PEOPLE SUGGEST 800-MEDICARE AND THERE'S ASSISTANCE AT THE AREA ON AGING BY CONTACTING US.

WE'RE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING FOR YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION.

>> Ted: WHAT'S THE QUESTION YOU HEAR THE MOST?

>> THE QUESTION I HEAR THE MOST IS, DO I NEED TO CHANGE MY PLAN AND THAT WILL VARY BETWEEN THE PERSON AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.

>> Ted: SHOULD I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY.

YOU TWO, GOOD INFORMATION ON A COULD BE CONFUSING TOPIC.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THEY GRANTED $17 MILLION TO THE BARROW NEUROLOGICAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH INTO ALS.

THE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO CREATE A NATIONAL RESEARCH CONSORTIUM TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING AND TREATMENT OF THE DISEASE AND TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME DR. ROBERT BOWSER, A SCIENTIFIC OFFICER.

THIS SEEMS TOUGH AND FRUSTRATING.

TALK ABOUT THE PAWN AND MONEY AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

SO WE'RE INCREDIBLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THIS NATIONAL EFFORT.

SO THE NEED, SO ALS IS A HORRIBLE HORRIFIC DISEASE, RAPIDLY PROGRESSES AND WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING?

WE'RE CREATING A NATIONAL CONSORTIUM AND THE GOAL IS TO ENROLL EVERY ALS PATIENT IN THIS STUDY.

WE'LL BE WORKING AT MAJOR ACADEMIC CENTERS AND PEOPLE IN REMOTE SETTINGS.

>> Ted: REMOTE, UNDERREPRESENTED PEOPLE AND I MEAN, BASICALLY, THIS IS GETTING AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN FROM AS WHITE A NET AS POSSIBLE.

>> EXACTLY.

SO WE'RE DOING WHAT'S CALLED A NATURAL HISTORY STUDY.

WE NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DISEASE IN PATIENTS AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGH THE DISEASE.

YOU BROUGHT UP THE UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES.

THE UNFORTUNATE THINGS IS MOST OF THE CLINICAL TRIALS AND RESEARCH STUDIES, MOST PEOPLE ARE NORTHERN EUROPEAN DISSENT, CAUCASIAN INDIVIDUALS.

WE KNOW LESS ABOUT THIS DISEASE THAN WE SHOULD AND THIS IS A MAJOR EFFORT TO REACH OUT AND ENROLL THESE PATIENTS INTO THIS STUDY.

>> Ted: SO, OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THOSE AT RISK AND THOSE WITH ALS.

DOES THAT EXPAND THE NET A LITTLE BIT, AS WELL?

>> DEFINITELY IT EXPANDS THE NET AND SO, YOU MENTIONED THOSE AT RISK AND THESE ARE PATIENTS THAT ARE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THOSE THAT HAVE A KNOWN GENETIC CAUSE OF THE DISEASE.

>> Ted: IS THERE A KNOWN GENETIC CAUSE?

>> WE KNOW OVER 40 GENES.

WE CAN ENROLL INDIVIDUALS THAT HARBOR THESE GENETIC MUTATIONS BUT DON'T YET HAVE ALS AND FOLLOW THEM OVER TIME.

OUR GOAL IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW AND WHEN THE ONSET OCCURS TO DEVELOP NEW AND IMPROVED TREATMENT TO STOP THE PROGRESSION OF THE DISEASE AND IN THESE INDIVIDUALS, TO HALT THE ONSET OF THE DISEASE.

>> Ted: IT SOUNDS LINING YOU'RE LIKE YOU'RE MANAGING 34 CLINICAL SITES?

>> SO NUHIH CREATED TWO QUARTERING CENTERS AND I'M RUNNING THE WEST IN THE WEST AND MY COLLEAGUES AND GENERAL MASSES ARE RUNNING THE EAST.

WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER AND HAVE A NETWORK OF 34 ACADEMIC CENTERS.

AGAIN, IT WILL INCLUDE EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

>> Ted: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ALS AND WHAT DO WE NOT KNOW?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

SO WE KNOW SOME OF THE GENERAL MECHANISMS THAT WE THINK PLAY A ROLE.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS HOW THESE CONTRIBUTE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, NORMAL AGING, HOW DOES THAT INITIATE THE DISEASE PROCESS?

HOW DOES IT PROPAGATE AND INFLUENCE THE RATE OF PROGRESSION IN INDIVIDUALS.

SO PATIENTS THAT PROGRESS SLOWLY, IT MIGHT LIVE FOR YEARS AND UP TO TWO DECADES WITH THE DISEASE AND OTHERS THAT PROGRESS FAST, WITHIN MONTHS, UNFORTUNATELY PASS.

SO WE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PROGRESSION.

>> Ted: WITH THIS INFORMATION YOU GATHER FROM THE CONSORTIUM, I WOULD IMAGINE A.I.

WOULD PLAY A FACTOR?

THAT'S A LOT OF STUFF AND A.I.

CAN GO THROUGH A LOT OF STUFF PRETTY FAST.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO NOT ONLY COLLECT THE INFORMATION BUT DISTRIBUTE IT.

WE'LL CREATE A PORTAL WHERE INVESTIGATORS WHERE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF THE INFORMATION, DATA.

THE OTHER THING IS WE'RE BRINGING IN ALREADY KNOWN DEVELOPED DATA SETS AND MAKING THAT AVAILABLE THROUGH THE PORTAL.

AS YOU SAID, NOW YOU HAVE HUGE AMOUNTS OF DATA THAT EITHER A.I., OTHER COMPANIES CAN ACCESS AND HOPEFULLY DEVELOP NEW THERAPIES.

>> Ted: WHEN DOES THE CONSORTIUM GET STARTED?

>> ABOUT THREE WEEKS EIGHT.

>> Ted: HOLY SMOKES!

>> IT STARTED THEN AND MEETS WITH NIH TODAY.

WE'LL BE ROLLING OUT PROTOCOLS AND GETTING ALL OF OUR SITES ACT THANK YOU INVESTIGATED IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS.

>> Ted: WHEN IT COMES TO ALS AND ALL DISEASES, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, IS IT NOT?

>> TIME IS DEFINITELY OF THE ESSENCE.

WE'RE ALL WORKING AS HARD AND QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

A LOT THE MONEY IS TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO NOT ONLY MAKE OUR IMPACT NOW BUT GROW THE CONSORTIUM.

IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE SOON AND WE HOPE WITH CONTINUED SUCCESS, IT WILL CONTINUALLY GET FUNDED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>> Ted: ROBERT BOWSER FROM BARROW NEUROLOGICAL INSTITUTE, CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER AND BEST OF LUCK ON THE PROGRAM AND HOPE YOU GET TREMENDOUS RESULTS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

MUSIC.

♪♪