House Speaker Cameron Sexton has proposed $10 million for the Vanderbilt ALS Research Center in a proposed state budget amendment, which could position Tennessee as a nationally recognized hub for ALS research. The funding would exceed the center's fundraising target of $5 million. The funds were proposed after Sexton saw firsthand the devastating nature of ALS, which has impacted close friends and family members. Center director Dr. Veronique Belzil and her team are using advanced research methods to discover possible treatments and a cure for the disease. The state funds are included as an amendment to the state's operating budget and must be approved by the legislature.