Target ALS Highlighted in New Case Study Released by Harvard Kennedy School Focused on Innovative Model for Collaborative Medical Research

Dan Doctoroff, Visionary New York-Based Leader and Former Deputy Mayor, Recognized for Impactful Approach to Targeting ALS

NEW YORK, March 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Harvard Kennedy School will premiere the newly published case study Dan Doctoroff and the Power of Collaboration – Target ALS Accelerates the Race Against a Deadly Disease. This case study, developed for graduate and executive education at both the Kennedy and Business Schools at Harvard, examines how strategic leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and innovative funding models can drive transformative progress in medical research.

Professor Herman B. "Dutch" Leonard, Eliot I. Snider and Family Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, and George F. Baker, Jr. Professor of Public Sector Management at Harvard Kennedy School, will lead an interactive discussion on leadership in cross-boundary collaborations. The discussion will feature insights from Dan Doctoroff, Founder of Target ALS, and Manish Raisinghani, CEO of Target ALS, as they explore the organization's groundbreaking approach to accelerating ALS research.

The case study is written by Pamela Varley, Senior Case Writer, in collaboration with Linda J. Bilmes, the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and a former Harvard classmate of Dan Doctoroff. At the heart of the case study is Dan Doctoroff's visionary leadership, which has reshaped ALS research by fostering radical collaboration between academia and industry, ensuring open access to critical resources, and accelerating breakthroughs.

"After losing my father and uncle to ALS, I saw firsthand the devastating impact of the disease—and the urgent need for a new approach to research," said Dan Doctoroff, who was diagnosed with ALS himself in 2021. "Over the past 12 years, we have fundamentally changed how ALS research is conducted, accelerating breakthroughs and uniting academia and industry in ways never seen before. The Harvard Kennedy School case study captures the urgency, collaboration, and strategic thinking that have driven Target ALS. This is a blueprint not just for ALS, but for solving any seemingly intractable problem."

Since its founding, Target ALS has revolutionized the ALS research landscape, pioneering the Innovation Ecosystem—a first-of-its-kind model that dismantles traditional barriers, ensures open access to critical research tools, and brings together scientists, drug developers, and investors in an unprecedented way.

"Dan's visionary leadership has not only transformed the fight against ALS but has also redefined how ALS research is funded, enabled, and conducted," said Manish Raisinghani. "From day one, Target ALS has been built to break down silos and accelerate progress through collaboration. The Harvard Kennedy School case study highlights not only Dan's impact but also the urgent, deliberate, and radical thinking that define Target ALS. His leadership has set a new standard for philanthropists tackling complex issues."

Professor Bilmes commented, "Since my days as his classmate, I have long admired Dan's ability to tackle complex challenges with bold, strategic thinking. His leadership at Target ALS exemplifies how vision, collaboration, and urgency can drive real change. This case study not only tells the story of Target ALS, but offers a model for anyone looking to break down barriers and accelerate progress in healthcare and beyond."

The case study is now available via the Harvard Kennedy School case programs and will serve as a resource for students, executives, and leaders across multiple industries seeking to drive innovation through collaboration.

For more details, visit www.targetals.org.

About Target ALS

Target ALS is a medical research foundation breaking down barriers to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) research to find effective treatments. Since 2013, Target ALS has revolutionized ALS research through its Innovation Ecosystem. By democratizing research through an unbiased review process, providing access to cutting-edge research tools, facilitating cross-disciplinary collaboration, and galvanizing industry involvement, Target ALS accelerates the most promising ideas in scientific research into drug development programs. Driven by impatient optimism, deliberate disruption, and radical collaboration, Target ALS aims to transform ALS into a manageable disease, building a world where Everyone Lives.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Stephanie Ishoo
Manager, Research Communications and Marketing, Target ALS
[email protected]

SOURCE Target ALS