At 2017 BIO Convention, Former Mass. First Lady Ann Romney Will Discuss Living with MS

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by Patricia Silva, PhD |

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Former Massachusetts First Lady Ann Romney,Ā global ambassador for Boston’sĀ Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Womenā€™s Hospital,Ā will deliver a keynote address at theĀ Biotechnology Innovation Organizationā€™s (BIO) International Convention in San Diego.

Romney, who is scheduled to speak June 21, will talkĀ about how her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis nearly 20 years ago challenged her self-identity, and about the difficulties of finding the right treatment. Romney is the wife of U.S. businessman and politician Mitt Romney, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2012 on the Republican ticket. From 2003 to 2007, Mitt Romney was governor of Massachusetts.

Despite her MS diagnosis, Romney, 68, is an accomplished equestrian. She also has five children and 23 grandchildren, and is a board member of the New England chapter ofĀ the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Womenā€™s Hospital represents a collaborative effort to findĀ treatments, prevention and cures for five of the worldā€™s most complex neurological diseases: MS,Ā Alzheimerā€™s disease, Parkinsonā€™s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and brain tumors.

ā€œAnn Romney embodies the ā€˜breakthroughā€™ theme of this yearā€™s BIO International Convention through her persistence in the face of adversity and her determination to reclaim her health,ā€ BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood said in a news release. ā€œMrs. Romneyā€™s compelling personal story and her vision as a global ambassador for brain health research reflect the cornerstone of our convention programming designed to inspire and educate biotechnology leaders.ā€

OnlyĀ few years ago, those affected with MS had limited treatments options; but now, the 400,000 Americans with the diseaseĀ have various therapeutic options that can help them manage their MS symptoms, such as muscular spasms and problems with weakness, fatigue and depression.

In sharing her vision behind the center, Romney will talk about the challenges faced by the research and medical community in preventing diseases, identifying novel therapies and finding cures for neurological conditions.

BIO’s international convention is the world’sĀ largest gathering of members of the biotechnology industry and industry-leading investors. To register for the San Diego event, please clickĀ here.