clinical research

Neuro Night event to raise funds for neurological care, research

Neuro Night, a philanthropic event set for October in Scottsdale, Arizona, is raising funds for the Barrow Neurological Institute and its mission of supporting the lifesaving care, medical education, and research for neurological diseases. The star-studded night of music, dancing, and fundraising, hosted by the Barrow Neurological Foundation,…

Don’t Jump to Conclusions Over a Breakthrough MS Vaccine Just Yet

A medical website’s headline screamed, “Breakthrough Multiple Sclerosis Vaccine Shows Impressive Results In Study.” TheĀ New York Daily News joined in, highlighting a potential “breakthrough” vaccine. Other media outlets also were using similar adjectives earlier this month. Unfortunately, it’s normal media hype. I suspect some of it was was…

Need to Know: What Are Stem Cells?

Editor’s note: “Need to Know” is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum.Ā This week’s question is inspired by the forum topicĀ “Has anyone had the stem cell procedure?” from Jan. 11. Youā€™ve no doubt heard…

Therapeutic Target for Stabilizing Histamine, an Inflammatory Agent in MS, Identified in Fruit Fly Study

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, workingĀ in the fruit fly model,Ā identified an organic cation transporter, CarT (carcinine transporter), that is crucial to the recycling of histamine in the brain and the maintenance of healthy vision. Histamine is a neurotransmitter involved in chronic inflammation and pathogenesis in multiple…

MS Researchers at Japanese Hospital to Use Novel MRI Technology

Juntendo University Hospital, the first medical school in Japan to adopt Western medicine, recently signed a research agreement withĀ SyntheticMRĀ to employ the companyā€™s SyMRI technology in clinical research projects at the hospital involving patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) or brain tumor metastases.Ā Ā SyntheticMRĀ isĀ a Swedish company developing and commercializing software…

MS Susceptibility May be Influenced by Female-Specific Variations in MicroRNAs-Coding Genes

In a new study entitled ā€œVariants of MicroRNA Genes: Gender-Specific Associations with Multiple Sclerosis Risk and Severity,ā€ researchersĀ identified variations in genes coding for microRNAs that influence patients’ susceptibility to develop multiple sclerosis, as well as the disease course. Most importantly, these variations were gender specific, identified only…

Cryoport, Inc. to Supply Opexa’s MS and NMO Immunotherapy Studies with Cryogenic Logistics Solutions

Cryoport, Inc., a leader in providingĀ advanced cryogenic logistics solutions for the life sciences industry, has just announced it will be supplying Opexa Therapeutics’ lead personalized T-cell immunotherapy research initiatives for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) andĀ Neuromyelitis Optica (“NMO”). Opexa’s breakthrough immunotherapy drug platform has shown the potential to improve the lives of…

Mitochondria May Play a Role in MS Development and Progression

Recent attention to the role of mitochondria in the etiology of multiple sclerosis (what causes the disease) suggests that mitochondrial defects and mitochondrial structural and functional changes may contribute to the disease. Researchers studying mitochondria in multiple sclerosis believe abnormalities in mitochondrial dynamics impact cellular pathways such as inflammation and…

Multiple Sclerosis Could be Treated with a Surprising Medication

An already approved medication used for bladder problems might help to treat multiple sclerosis, according to researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Lead author Fraser J. Sim, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the University at Buffalo…

Multiple Sclerosis Treatments Benefit From Discovery of New Inflammatory Molecule

A newly discovered molecule could play a pivotal role in inflammatory diseases, including multiple sclerosis, according to researchers at Trinity College Dublin and the University of Queensland Australia. The study was published in the journal Nature Medicine,Ā and describes aĀ molecule known as MCC950 that can suppress the ‘NLRP3 inflammasome’,…