FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The event is open to a diverse audience, including NEALS members, researchers, study teams, clinicians, academic partners, industry representatives, foundation members, government partners, and the October 2024 ALS Research Ambassador® class. Additionally, we extend a warm virtual invitation to people with lived ALS experience, including individuals living with ALS, people at risk for the disease, caregivers and loved ones, and those who have lost loved ones to ALS.

A recording of the meeting will be accessible to NEALS Members on the NEALS Member portal following the conclusion of the meeting.

Please visit the Meeting Materials page:

We regret to inform you that CME credits will not be available for this event. We appreciate your understanding.

Due to limitations in space and potential conflicts, meetings may not be held during the Annual Meeting days and times. Meetings must be held prior to Monday, October 21st 9:00am ET or after the Annual Meeting concludes on Thursday, October 24th 1:00pm ET. NEALS requires all organizations that wish to hold functions of any size or nature in any location around the Annual Meeting to contact NEALS prior to promotion and implementation of the function.

VIRTUAL PRESENTATION DEMO SESSION We will host brief (30 min) small group demo sessions to highlight virtual presenting functionality. Please click on the weeks linked below to schedule your demo session: Week of September 16 – September 20 Week of September 30 – October 3 We'rv prepared a few guides linked below to help you get started: Joining the Virtual 2024 Annual NEALS Meeting Accessing and Navigating the Virtual Poster Hall (for poster presenters) Virtual Poster Presenting Reach out to NEALS Associate Program Director, Beverly Smits, with any questions.

Registrations are process through Fourwaves. In-person registration will be closed once the in-person capacity is reached, and as spaces are filling up quickly, we encourage you to register as soon as possible! Please note that we will not be able to accommodate onsite registration for this event. Registration will open for NEALS Members on Monday, April 1, 2024 Registration will open for all others on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 Once Registration is open, select the button above and fill out your contact information and select your registration type to start the registration process. Confirm Registration Details: Double-check all the information you've entered to ensure its accuracy. Pay special attention to your email address as this is where you'll receive confirmation and any further communication regarding the event. Complete Registration: Once you've reviewed and confirmed all the registration details, proceed to the next step to complete your registration. You may need to make a payment at this stage if there are registration fees associated with your ticket type. Receive Confirmation: After successfully completing the registration process, you should receive a confirmation email from Fourwaves confirming your registration for the Annual Meeting. In the email, you'll find a link to register and log into Fourwaves. Fourwaves will also be used for abstract submissions, virtual meeting access, and virtual poster gallery access.

In-person registration will be closed once the in-person capacity is reached, and as spaces are filling up quickly, we encourage you to register as soon as possible! Virtual registration will remain open until the start of the program on October 21st at 9:00 am.

The Annual Meeting offers several ticket types to cater to diverse participant groups: 1) NEALS Members This category includes individuals working at NEALS Member Sites Option: Virtual or In Person 2) People with lived ALS experience This category includes individuals living with the disease, people at risk for the disease, caregivers and loved ones, and those who have lost loved ones to ALS. Option: Virtual 3) Industry Partners Option: Virtual or In Person 4) Foundation and Academic Partners This category includes individuals working at foundations or Non-NEALS academic institutions. Option: Virtual or In Person

1) NEALS Members Virtual and/or In Person: Free (included in annual membership dues) 2) People with lived ALS experience Virtual: Free 3) Industry Partners Virtual: $550 In Person: $2,750 (The registration fees will increase on September 1 to $3,500) 4) Foundation and Non-NEALS Academic Partners Virtual: Free In Person: $550 (The registration fees will increase on September 1 to $650)

We're thrilled to offer virtual access to our Annual Meeting for your participation. At this time we are unable to accommodate in-person attendance.

We understand that circumstances may change, and we aim to provide flexibility to our participants. Please note the specified deadlines for cancellations and changes to ensure the appropriate refund or adjustment. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact NEALS Associate Program Director, Beverly Smits (bsmits@neals.org). Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Please take a minute to review the refund/cancellation policy: Conference registration canceled on or before July 31, 2024, is 100% refundable but subject to a $50 administrative fee. Conference registration canceled on or after August 1, 2024, is 50% refundable but subject to a $50 administrative fee. Conference registration canceled on or after September 1, 2024, is not refundable. Participants have the option to change their attendance from in-person to virtual and receive a refund of the price difference in ticket fees, but subject to a $50 administrative fee. Participants may transfer their ticket to another individual at their institution.

We understand that circumstances may change, and we aim to provide flexibility to our participants. Please note the specified deadlines for cancellations and changes to ensure the appropriate refund or adjustment. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact NEALS Associate Program Director, Beverly Smits (bsmits@neals.org). Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Please take a minute to review the refund/cancellation policy: Conference registration canceled on or before July 31, 2024, is 100% refundable but subject to a $50 administrative fee. Conference registration canceled on or after August 1, 2024, is 50% refundable but subject to a $50 administrative fee. Conference registration canceled on or after September 1, 2024, is not refundable. Participants have the option to change their attendance from in-person to virtual and receive a refund of the price difference in ticket fees, but subject to a $50 administrative fee. Participants may transfer their ticket to another individual at their institution.

Please contact NEALS Associate Program Director, Beverly Smits if you need to transfer your registration to another individual.

Please follow these guidelines when preparing your poster display: Preparing the Display: Include the full title of the presentation and the names of all authors at the top of the display. Arrange the remainder of the display in a logical and coherent fashion to convey your research or findings effectively. Poster Dimensions and Materials: Please pay attention to the following when preparing your poster: Poster layout Dimensions: A0: 118.9 cm (height) x 84.1 cm (width), portrait format Poster dimensions should not exceed 90×120 cm – width/height Ensure that your poster does not exceed these dimensions to fit the provided boards. NEALS will provide poster numbers for easy identification and poster velcro stickers for mounting your materials. Virtual Poster Specifications: Image format (jpeg, png, gif or PDF); Maximum of 100 Mb; The portrait format is ideal since you can use that for the in-person poster as well. There are no specific dimensions, but as a matter of comparison, something like 16 x 9 would work. Additional Tips: Prioritize clarity and readability in your design. By adhering to these guidelines, you will contribute to a successful and engaging poster session at the event. If you have any specific questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to NEALS Associate Program Director, Beverly Smits. We look forward to seeing your poster at the Annual NEALS Meeting! Important note: Please be aware that the Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) is not responsible for printing or putting up abstract posters.

Yes, you can ship your accepted poster to the meeting venue. Please note that packages will only be accepted starting 10/17/24. Please use the following address for shipping: Opal Sands Resort / Annual NEALS meeting C/O Lynne Grant hold for YOUR NAME 430 S GULFVIEW BLVD CLEARWATER BEACH, FL 33767-2507 Pick up Location: You can pick up your poster in the Aqua Board Room at the Opal Sands Resort. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to check with the NEALS event staff on-site. Important Note: Please be aware that the Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) is not responsible for missing posters that were shipped to the hotel. Ensure that your package is appropriately labeled and consider confirming with the hotel staff upon arrival to avoid any issues. We look forward to your participation in the Annual NEALS Meeting!

If you need to print your poster near the meeting venue in Clearwater, Florida, here are some nearby stores that offer printing services. Ensure that you inquire about their printing capabilities, turnaround times, and any specific requirements they may have. It's recommended to contact the print shops in advance to confirm their services and availability. The UPS Store Address: 140 Island Way, Clearwater, FL 33767 Contact: (727) 446-0660 FedEx Office Print & Ship Center Address: 529 S Ft Harrison Ave A4, Clearwater, FL 33756 Contact: (727) 447-9259 The UPS Store Address: 611 S Ft Harrison Ave, Clearwater, FL 33756 Contact: (727) 446-3993 OneStop Print, Signs, Marketing, Screen Printing, Embroidery, Graphics Address: 300 S Madison Ave #9, Clearwater, FL 33756 Contact: (727) 442-6566 FASTSIGNS Address: 712 S Missouri Ave, Clearwater, FL 33756 Contact: (727) 513-8460 Please be aware that these suggestions are provided for convenience, and NEALS does not endorse or guarantee the services of these vendors. Contact vendors directly for specific details and services. We wish you a successful poster presentation at the Annual NEALS Meeting!

Accepted poster presenters are required to have at least one representative attend the NEALS Annual Meeting in person to present. Failure to present the accepted poster may result in the inability to submit a poster presentation the following year.

Yes! It is a requirement to upload your poster to the Virtual Library. Here's why: We aim to make all abstract posters accessible to registered meeting attendees, including those who are joining virtually. The "Virtual Poster Library" will be a valuable resource for sharing research and insights. This online library will be available to registered attendees from 4:30 pm ET on October 22nd through 4:00 pm ET on October 24th, 2024. Submission Details: To ensure your poster is included in the Virtual Library, please follow these steps: - Upload a PDF of your poster file during your original abstract submission. - The deadline for poster submissions is Friday, October 18th, 2024. - If you need guidance on editing your submission, you can find instructions here. By contributing to the Virtual Library, you enhance the reach and impact of your research beyond the in-person event. Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to showcasing your work in the Virtual Poster Library!

During your assigned virtual poster session date, you'll have the opportunity to engage with attendees through live video conversations. Be prepared to discuss your research, answer questions, and provide insights into your poster content.

Yes, you can enhance your virtual poster presentation by including additional materials such as PowerPoint slides, video files, or supplementary documents. These can provide further context or details about your research. Please review the Fourwaves help article explaining how to do so.

We've prepared a few guides linked below to help you get started: Joining the Virtual 2024 Annual NEALS Meeting Accessing and Navigating the Virtual Poster Hall (for poster presenters) Virtual Poster Presenting Reach out to NEALS Associate Program Director, Beverly Smits, with any questions.