Posts by: Joana Carvalho, PhD

Joana Carvalho, PhD

Joana holds a BSc in Biology, a MSc in Evolutionary and Developmental Biology and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal. Her work has been focused on the impact of non-canonical Wnt signaling in the collective behavior of endothelial cells — cells that made up the lining of blood vessels — found in the umbilical cord of newborns.

March 27, 2020March 27, 2020

Mix of Broad and Specific Language May Help in Talking About MS

News

Using a mix of broad diagnostic terms and more disease-specific ones may help physicians and patients to better communicate symptoms of autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS) that are not always ... Read more

March 25, 2020March 25, 2020

Myelin Health Depends on Steady Supply of Lipids, Study Suggests

News

Continuous production of fatty molecules (lipids) is crucial to the maintenance of the myelin sheath that wraps nerve fibers to protect them, ensuring the transmission of electrical impulses between ... Read more

February 20, 2020February 24, 2020

Bone Marrow Transplant Can Replace Overactive Immune Cells, Preventing Inflammation in MS, Study Says

News

A bone marrow transplant can remove the majority of overactive immune T cells from the central nervous system (CNS) in patients with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), allowing the ... Read more

January 6, 2020January 6, 2020

Language Classes Promote Brain Health and Life Quality in RRMS Patients, Study Finds

News

Learning a second language can bolster the health-related quality of life and mental well-being of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) by working to expand areas of the brain involved ... Read more

December 11, 2019December 11, 2019

Tysabri May Promote Inflammatory B-Cell Activation in MS Patients, Study Says

News

Tysabri (natalizumab), an effective T-cell targeting treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), seems to also promote the activation of pro-inflammatory immune B-cells in people with this disease, a study found. The study, “Natalizumab ... Read more

December 6, 2019December 6, 2019

FDA Approves Three Generic Versions of Novartis’ Gilenya for Treating Relapsing MS

News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved three generic versions of Gilenya (fingolimod) for the treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). A generic is ... Read more

December 6, 2019December 6, 2019

Signaling Protein of Intestines May Trigger Nervous System Inflammation in MS, Study Says

News

A signaling protein (Smad7) that usually blocks the activity of a molecule called transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) appears to be overactive in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), leading to ... Read more

December 3, 2019December 3, 2019

Online MS ‘Toolkit’ Created by University Psychologist to Help in Managing Pain and Fatigue

News

Researchers at the University of Michigan developed an online tool to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) manage some of the more life-affecting symptoms of their disease. Called My MSToolkit, the ... Read more

November 15, 2019November 15, 2019

Weill Neurohub Unites 3 Academic Centers with DOE Scientists to Advance Tools, Treatments for MS and Other Ills

News

Three academic research institutions launched the Weill Neurohub initiative, an effort to speed the discovery and development of therapies for neurological diseases that include multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, and ... Read more

November 14, 2019November 14, 2019

7T MRI Reveals New Insights into Some RRMS Features

News

With the help of 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), investigators discovered that leptomeningeal enhancement — a radiographic finding indicative of brain inflammation — is more common than previously ... Read more

November 13, 2019November 13, 2019

Single Dose of CD45-ADC Resets the Immune System, Delays the Onset of MS in Mice

News

A single dose of CD45-ADC, an investigational targeted therapy being developed to treat different types of autoimmune diseases, is enough to reset the normal function of the body’s immune ... Read more

October 22, 2019October 28, 2019

Long-term Gilenya Treatment Safe and Effective for Relapsing MS Patients, Phase 3 Trial Shows

News

Long-term treatment with Gilenya (fingolimod) in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) is safe and effective, results from a Phase 3 trial show. Trial findings were reported ... Read more

October 10, 2019October 10, 2019

Ills Like Depression, Hypertension More Common in MS Patients Than Others in US, Blue Cross Report Finds

News

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the U.S. are three times more likely to have mental or behavioral health issues, including depression and substance abuse (substance use disorder), than the general population, ... Read more

October 8, 2019October 8, 2019

Structure and Workings of Receptor Tied to Inflammation and Cell Death Seen for First Time

News

Scientists observed for the first time the molecular structure of the P2X 7 receptor, a protein that plays a key role in cell death, inflammation, and cancer progression. This breakthrough ... Read more

October 3, 2019October 3, 2019

Acthar Gel Eases MS Flare-up Symptoms After Two Months of Treatment, Observational Study Shows

News

Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) eased flare-up symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experiencing relapses, top-line data from an observational registry study shows. Acthar Gel, a medication developed ... Read more

October 1, 2019October 1, 2019

FeetMe Raises €9.4M to Advance Gait and Posture Technology for Patients with Movement Disorders

News

FeetMe, a medical device company dedicated to the development of devices and digital health services to improve patients’ mobility, has raised €9.4 million ($10.25 million) in Series A funding to ... Read more

September 13, 2019September 18, 2019

#ECTRIMS2019 — Eliminating SARM1 Protects Neurons in Mouse Model of MS

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Eliminating SARM1, an enzyme that plays a key role in nerve cell degeneration, protects neurons in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a condition that mimics the key pathological ... Read more

September 12, 2019September 12, 2019

#ECTRIMS2019 — Biogen Presents New Real-world Data Demonstrating Clinical Benefits of Tysabri, Plegridy, and Avonex

News

Biogen is presenting new data highlighting the potential clinical benefits of Tysabri (natalizumab), Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a), and Avonex (interferon beta-1a) for the treatment of specific groups of individuals with ... Read more

September 10, 2019September 10, 2019

NervGen Planning Clinical Trials of NVG-291, Peptide That Might Promote Myelin Repair

News

NervGen Pharma announced plans to open clinical trials evaluating the potential of its lead candidate NVG-291 to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) and spinal cord injury. NVG-291 is an investigational peptide ... Read more

September 6, 2019September 6, 2019

Oral Ozanimod More Effective Than Avonex in Lowering Annual Relapses in MS Patients, Phase 3 Trial Finds

News

Oral ozanimod is more effective at reducing the frequency of relapses than Avonex (interferon beta-1a) in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), and does so with reasonable safety, results ... Read more

September 5, 2019September 5, 2019

Sandoz Enters Agreement with Polpharma Biologics to Develop and Commercialize Tysabri Biosimilar

News

Sandoz, a division of Novartis dedicated to the development of biosimilars, has entered an agreement with Polpharma Biologics, a biopharmaceutical company also dedicated to the manufacture of biosimilars, to ... Read more

August 29, 2019August 29, 2019

Role of SARM1 Enzyme, Key Player in Neurodegeneration, Detailed in Studies

News

Two new studies delve into the structure of SARM1, an enzyme that plays a key role in nerve cell degeneration, and are expected to aid the development of targeted ... Read more

August 21, 2019August 21, 2019

Immune System Molecule IL-17A Likely Inflammatory Agent in RRMS, Study Says

News

Interleukin-17A (IL-17A), a molecule that mediates immune and inflammatory responses, likely promotes inflammation and tissue damage in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and should be considered a potential target for ... Read more

August 14, 2019August 14, 2019

US Agency Asked to OK Cannabinoid Shipments from Canada to Support Studies in MS, MMJ Announces

News

MMJ International Holdings, a pharmaceutical company whose focus is plant-derived cannabis products for therapeutic purposes, has requested permission to ship tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) from Canada to the ... Read more

August 12, 2019August 12, 2019

SyntheticMR’s Software Package Capable of Quickly Measuring Myelin in Brain Available in US

News

SyntheticMR‘s SyMRI NEURO, a software package that can segment and measure myelin volume in the brain, is now available for use by radiologists in the U.S. through an agreement ... Read more

August 8, 2019August 19, 2019

Medical Marijuana Now Available to MS and Other Patients in Louisiana

News

Medical cannabis products, jointly developed by GB Sciences Louisiana (GBSL) and the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center’s (LSU AgCenter) Therapeutic Cannabis Program, are now available for purchase by qualified patients ... Read more

August 5, 2019August 8, 2019

Under-the-skin CBD Infusion With Valeritas’ h-Patch Device Prolongs Therapy Effects, Study Finds

News

Valeritas Holdings’ proprietary h-Patch device can be used to administer cannabidiol by an under-the-skin (subcutaneous) infusion, prolonging the time the medication remains in circulation in the body and maximizing ... Read more

August 1, 2019August 1, 2019

Rutgers Health Leading Program to Support MS Children

News

Rutgers Health is leading the Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Diseases Program, the only program in the state of New Jersey designed specifically to support children with multiple sclerosis ... Read more

July 31, 2019July 31, 2019

3D Imaging of Brain Lesions May Spot Those Most Likely to Heal, Guiding Treatment

News

A new diagnostic method for multiple sclerosis (MS) that uses 3D analysis of a patient’s brain may be able to tell physicians which lesions there are more likely to heal ... Read more

July 26, 2019July 26, 2019

MS MindShift Campaign Uses Balloon Festival to Raise Awareness About MS Brain Health

News

Celgene and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) are working together to bring the “MS MindShift: A New View of MS” campaign, which is raising awareness about the ... Read more

July 17, 2019July 17, 2019

Phase 1 Trial of T20K, Plant Protein-derived Therapy for MS, Doses 1st Group of Healthy Men

News

A first group of healthy volunteers in a Phase 1 trial assessing the safety and tolerability of T20K, Cyxone‘s plant protein-derived candidate for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), ... Read more

July 16, 2019July 19, 2019

3-D Brain Models of PPMS and Parkinson’s Off to Space Station for Research in Microgravity

News

The National Stem Cell Foundation announced the start of a pioneering project to investigate the impact of microgravity on the neurodegeneration associated with primary progressive multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s ... Read more

July 15, 2019July 15, 2019

CMSC Opens Weeklong Mental Health Program to Help Mentor and Train MS Specialists

News

The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), working with the Foundation of the CMSC (FCMSC) and EMD Serono, launched a new Mental Health Mini-Mentorship Program to help clinicians better ... Read more

July 12, 2019July 12, 2019

Study Examines Gadolinium Deposits in MS Patients’ Brains, But Still Can’t Determine Relationship with Disease Severity

News

The use of gadodiamide, a gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) often used to help clinicians visualize brain structures in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, leads to the accumulation of gadolinium ... Read more

June 28, 2019August 2, 2019

Mavenclad Continues to Demonstrate Sustained Efficacy, Safety in Patients with Relapsing Forms of MS, Post-hoc Analyses Show

News

Mavenclad (cladribine) tablets continue to show sustained efficacy and consistent safety in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), post-hoc analyses of a Phase 3 trial extension study ... Read more

June 27, 2019August 5, 2019

Progressive MS Patients Have Difficulties Perceiving Thoughts, Intentions of Others, Study Reveals

News

Patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) have difficulties perceiving the thoughts and intentions, but not the emotions, of other individuals, Kessler Foundation researchers have found. Those findings were reported ... Read more

June 24, 2019June 24, 2019

Health Care Needs ‘Particularly High’ in Children and Teens with MS, Study Finds

News

The burden in treating children with multiple sclerosis (MS) in terms of hospitalizations and doctor visits is extremely high, especially in the first year after diagnosis, a study from ... Read more

June 21, 2019June 21, 2019

Cyxone Launches Phase 1 Trial Assessing T20K for MS

News

Cyxone launched the first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial assessing the effects of T20K, its new therapeutic candidate for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), in healthy volunteers. The announcement came ... Read more

June 18, 2019June 18, 2019

Immune System Activation Induced by Filgrastim Likely Beneficial for Patients with Tysabri-associated PML, Study Says

News

Immune system activation induced by filgrastim may be beneficial for patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy associated with the use of Tysabri (natalizumab), without worsening multiple sclerosis (MS) progression, a ... Read more

June 18, 2019June 18, 2019

Neurological Disease’s Progression Slows with Lowering of Iron Load in Brain, Study Finds

News

Deferiprone, a compound that lowers iron levels in the bloodstream by binding to iron molecules, can slow progression of a severe neurodegenerative disorder called pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN), a study ... Read more