A U-M researcher is participating in a study of the first human stem cell treatment for the fatal neurodegenerative disease ALS after a project she’s involved with received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA approved Maryland-based Neuralstem Inc. to study the safety of its patented neural stem cells at multiple sites along the spinal cords of 18 patients with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, who are enrolled in the trial.

U-M neurologist Eva Feldman developed the protocol for delivering stem cells into the spinal cord and will be a principal investigator in the trial. The study will be conducted at the Neuromuscular Laboratory at Emory University in Atlanta.

Third annual Big House Big Heart race fast approaching

The third annual Big House Big Heart charity race for University of Michigan medical programs is scheduled for Sunday Oct. 4 in Ann Arbor.

The event, which is open to runners, walkers and wheelers, has 10 kilometer, 5 kilometer and 1 mile routes through Ann Arbor streets that finish at the 50-yard line of Michigan Stadium.

It raises money for the U-M Program for Neurological Research and Discovery, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and U-M’s Cardiovascular center.

The cost is $36 per participant in the 5K or 10K races or $39 on race weekend. The cost for the 1 mile route is $18 per participant or $23 on race weekend. Registration and fundraising information is available at www.bighousebigheart.com, email andrea@runningfit.com or call 734-929-9027.

Local autism research gets NIH funding, doc to discuss work

An Ann Arbor doctor is conducting a three-year autism study of his play-based intervention program after receiving a $1.85 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

The program, called The Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters Project Home Consulting, or P.L.A.Y., focuses on training parents in intensive early intervention methods for young children. It uses a model that incorporates structured monthly home visits to train parents to interact with their children in a way that will promote emotional connection and communication.

Solomon will be discussing his work at the Ann Arbor District Library Downtown branch, 343 S. Fifth Ave., on Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, call the library at 327-4555. For more information about the P.L.A.Y. project, call the Ann Arbor Center for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at 734-997-9088.

Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. Contact her at tinareed@annarbor.com or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.