Mary Chapman, features writer —

From celebrating artists’ works to sharing stories that bring to life the experience of multiple sclerosis (MS), Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month is designed to call attention to this neurodegenerative disorder and the nearly 1 million U.S. residents it’s thought to affect. MS can cause a host of physical…

Under rules in the No Surprises Act, insured patients people in the U.S., including those with multiple sclerosis, should no longer receive unexpected medical bills for emergency care or for treatment from out-of-network providers at facilities in their network. The act, which became effective on Jan. 1, prohibits…

People in a Neural Sleeve gait study were reported to show an “average improvement” of 143% in foot drop, a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other conditions that hinder mobility, its developer, Cionic, reports. The wearable “bionic” device — which analyzes, predicts,…

It’s been a decade since the opening of the UK MS Register, which sought to gain a better understanding of how multiple sclerosis (MS) affects patients’ everyday lives, with a goal, according to its website, toward fueling campaigns for “fair, relevant policy and improved health care.” Now, the…

A new podcast series hosted and produced by cultural expert Jess Weiner aims to help girls, non-binary individuals, and women, with their confidence. The target audience includes those with physical disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), that may affect their self-image. Called “Dominant Stories with Jess Weiner,” the 12-episode…

A musical about the life of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the Italian-born Roman Catholic nun known as Mother Cabrini to the many immigrants in New York she served in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, tells Cabrini’s story through the eyes of a 13-year-old girl with multiple sclerosis (MS)…

The Adira Foundation received nearly $750,000 from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation to improve care and access for the roughly 5,000 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients living in rural areas of Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Intended to enhance the access and delivery of specialized care to…

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is calling for submissions for its 2022 MSAA Art Showcase, an initiative that celebrates the work of artists who have multiple sclerosis (MS). The showcase, which began in 2009, gives MS patients in the U.S. the opportunity to share their…

Yoga Moves MS is not letting the pandemic keep it from its annual educational event for those with multiple sclerosis (MS) — on Nov. 6, the group will again present a virtual version of its Yoga Moves Holistic Health and Wellness Forum for MS. The four-hour forum seeks…

People in Australia with multiple sclerosis (MS) and certain other medical conditions will have access to new and expanded medications — including Kesimpta — now listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Having these medications on the PBS will lower treatment costs for MS patients and their…

The MS Society in the U.K. is again marking Black History Month, observed each October in the United Kingdom, to celebrate and call attention to the needs of Black people in the multiple sclerosis (MS) community. To that end, the nonprofit organization is highlighting the stories and challenges…

The MS Trust has put together a free School Awareness Pack aimed at raising the profile of multiple sclerosis (MS) and dispelling some common disease misunderstandings in schools. Designed for teachers, school staff members, and students, the pack consists of information about MS and the U.K. patient…

As the federal election looms in Canada, a nation that has one of the world’s highest rates of multiple sclerosis (MS), the MS Society of Canada is urging patients and advocates to inform candidates about issues of importance to the MS community. The letter-writing and social media campaign,…

OM1, a technology company focused on chronic conditions, announced that it has launched a multiple sclerosis (MS) registry to generate data that may ultimately be used to improve care and develop treatments for the disease. The OM1 registry is being touted as the largest, most representative MS…

Selma Blair, the TV and film actor who is also a multiple sclerosis (MS) advocate, will headline next month’s second International Virtual Summit for young adults with chronic and rare disorders. Hosted by Health Advocacy Summit (HAS), the Aug. 7-8 event will focus on empowerment, resources, and connection. The event is…

In an effort to make sure those with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) are included in disability legislation, the United Spinal Association and some 200 advocates recently gathered virtually for this year’s “Roll on Capitol Hill.” The annual event, in which advocates met with lawmakers, gives organization members…

A $1 million gift from Velocity Global will help expand First Descents, an adventure program for young adults living with multiple sclerosis (MS) or other serious chronic conditions. The money will go toward program development and is expected to help First Descents reach 1,000 MS patients over…

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) and iRacing are revving up for a special, July 31 motoring event to raise funds for the advocacy group. Called the iRacing 4 Hours at Charlotte Benefiting the National MS Society, the event will stream live at twitch.tv/iracing and marks iRacing’s…

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada‘s (MSSC) MS Walk fundraiser is still on for this month — May is MS Awareness Month in Canada — although in an altered form due to the pandemic. The annual nationwide community-driven event raises funds and MS awareness to help battle the…

Despite the current challenging times, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) will host its annual Improving Lives Benefit this year, albeit virtually. The May 13 event will spotlight the nonprofit organization’s community efforts over more than 50 years. The affair will be hosted by multiple sclerosis (MS)…

An MS Society survey found that about one-third of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the U.K. have kept their condition hidden from their partner, family members, employer, or work colleagues. To help mark MS Awareness Week, observed in the U.K. April 19–25, the nonprofit organization released…

The pandemic notwithstanding, MS Run the US has fielded 18 runners — including eight with multiple sclerosis (MS) — to traverse the United States to raise awareness and funds to support MS research and to aid those living with disability caused by the neurodegenerative disease. The organization’s Ultra…

As winner of the Lyfebulb and Bristol Myers Squibb Innovation Challenge in multiple sclerosis (MS), Evolution Devices will use the $25,000 in prize money to further develop a smart stimulation therapy that seeks to improve patient mobility. The innovative electrical device under development by Pierluigi Mantovani, co-founder…

Note: This story was updated March 8, 2021, to note that tickets for MSAA’s Virtual Art Tour are still available for purchase.  Activities are underway to mark Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, set aside each year to call attention to the neurodegenerative disorder estimated to affect almost 1 million U.S.

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are encouraged to complete a survey aimed at understanding the experiences and expectations of those with a chronic illness who have either participated in a clinical trial or may in the future. The questionnaire was created by Kayentis, an electronic solutions company, in…

A new $100-million program aims to improve the diversity of participants in U.S. clinical trials with the ultimate goal of achieving better health outcomes and parity in care for underserved patient populations. The initiative seeks to extend the reach of clinical studies to underserved populations in the nation’s urban and rural…

A $25,000 contest is inviting entrepreneurs who have multiple sclerosis (MS), or take care of someone with MS, to pitch their non-therapeutic solutions for people with the neurodegenerative disorder. The virtual Innovation Challenge, which takes place in March 2021, is part of a collaboration between patient-powered platform Lyfebulb…

Eli Lilly has reached an agreement to acquire Disarm Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing a new class of disease-modifying treatments for patients with axonal degeneration, including those with multiple sclerosis (MS). In its announcement, Lilly committed to advancing Disarm’s prospective therapies, currently in preclinical development.

Dragonfly Therapeutics and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) announced an expanded partnership focused on discovering and developing treatment candidates for multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuroinflammation targets. The companies have been working together in therapy research and development for cancer and autoimmune diseases using Dragonfly’s proprietary immunotherapy targeting…

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded a $7.2 million grant to a team led by Cleveland Clinic researchers that will study whether a new biomarker might more accurately diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS). Grant money will support a study in 400 adults suspected of having MS to determine if the…