For Immediate Release
Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS Funds Dedicated Position at UC Irvine ALS Clinic
Irvine, CA — February 19, 2026 — Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS is proud to announce its renewed support of the UCI Health ALS & Neuromuscular Center through funding for a dedicated position, further strengthening patient care for individuals and families affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Nearly 20 years ago, Augie’s Quest made an initial, catalytic donation that helped establish the ALS clinic at UCI Health, the clinical enterprise of University of California, Irvine.
“This partnership comes full circle for us,” said Lynne Nieto, Chair of Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS. “My husband, Augie, received great care from UC Irvine during his time living with ALS from Dr. Tahseen Mozaffar, and was proud to help create the UCI Health ALS clinic nearly two decades ago through a gift from Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS. It’s our privilege to support the team as they continue to serve patients with excellence, compassion, and innovation.”
UCI Health ALS & Neuromuscular Center physicians and staff have had a long-standing relationship with Augie’s Quest, supporting the organization through patient referrals, collaboration, and ongoing commitment to the ALS community. Their dedication has helped ensure patients receive expert, multidisciplinary care close to home.
“We are deeply grateful to Augie’s Quest for their generous support,” said Namita A. Goyal, MD, FAAN, co-director of the UCI Health ALS & Neuromuscular Center. “This transformative gift will enable the UCI Health ALS clinic to hire an advanced practice practitioner, strengthening our ability to deliver comprehensive, compassionate care to our patients living with ALS. The addition of an APP will enhance our ability to promptly triage patient concerns and accommodate timely follow-up visits to address questions or changes in condition. This support will also allow our ALS physicians to expedite new patient evaluations and diagnoses and devote additional time to advancing cutting edge clinical trials to find effective therapies for ALS,” added Goyal, who also serves as a professor in the UC Irvine Department of Neurology and director of the Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship Program.
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no known cure. Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS remains committed to advancing research, and empowering hope for a future without
For more information about the UCI ALS Clinic, visit https://www.ucihealth.org/medical-services/programs/als-neuromuscular-center.
About Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS
Founded by Augie Nieto, Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS is the unwavering force driving breakthroughs in ALS research, defying limitations, and empowering hope for a future without this devastating disease. We are dedicated to funding innovative research to find effective treatments and ultimately a cure, while advancing the field and translating scientific knowledge into real-world solutions. For more information, visit us at augiesquest.org, LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.
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