Patricia Silva, PhD,  director of science content—

Patrícia holds a PhD in medical microbiology and infectious diseases from the Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands, and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisbon, Portugal. Her work in academia was mainly focused on molecular biology and the genetic traits of infectious agents such as viruses and parasites. Patrícia earned several travel awards to present her work at international scientific meetings. She is a published author of several peer-reviewed science articles.

Articles by Patricia Silva

MS Society Funds 3 New Investigations into Symptom Management

The Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS Society) in the U.K. recently announced  awards targeted towards new MS research. In total, 16 projects carefully selected by both a panel of experts and patients living with MS will share MS Society 2015 funding grants amounting to £1,979,879. All projects fulfilled the requirements of high scientific…

MS Patients on Salt-heavy Diets Risk Inflammation

Findings from two studies, recently published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, indicate that high levels of salt alter the stability of the immune system and make it more susceptible to inflammation. The studies, which were led by Dr. David Hafler from Yale University and Dr. Dominik…

MS Society Supports 2 Projects Advancing MS Care, Services

The United Kingdom based Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS Society) recently announced £1.98 million in grants to new MS research projects in different disease-related areas. A panel of experts carefully selected 16 projects to be funded through the MS Society’s 2015 grant round, totaling £1,979,879. All selected projects fulfill the requirements of…

MS Society Funds 5 Projects Aiming to Cure the Disease

The Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS Society) in the United Kingdom recently announced the investment of £1.98 million in new MS research. After an in-depth, rigorous review process of the 58 applications submitted, 16 projects were awarded funding through the MS Society’s 2015 grant round totaling £1,979,879. All applications…

Might Chocolate Ease Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue?

A research team from Oxford Brookes University is being given a £70,000 ($107,000) grant to analyze whether dark chocolate can help ease symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS Society) will fund the study. The goal of the project, according to a press release, is to investigate if a…

Mitsubishi Auction Raises Money for Multiple Sclerosis Society

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) recently announced a nationwide auction of its first Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Final Edition to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The auction is currently ongoing on eBay  and bidding will conclude on Nov. 21 at the 29th annual MS Dinner Auction, sponsored…

MS Patients and Doctors Have a New Way of Working Together

A new partnership between ARM and HeartToHeart Networks LLC has brought healthcare providers of patients with neurodegenerative disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, a new and secure tool for remote health management. The novel health management (RHM) solution combines technology from both companies. It uses mobile devices adapted with a Trusted…

Roche to Pursue MS Ocrelizumab Drug Market Authorization

Roche recently provided an update on their late-stage pipeline products across several therapeutic areas, including ocrelizumab for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The data was disclosed on Nov. 5 at the Roche Pharma Day 2015 event in London, U.K. Ocrelizumab was previously revealed to be the first investigational medicine…

MS, Other Groups to Benefit from Fitbit’s Step Challenge

Fitbit, a company dedicated to the development of health and fitness products and experiences to help individuals adopt healthier lifestyles, recently announced the FitForGood initiative, a step challenge encouraging Fitbit fans to get fit for a good cause — with their steps translating into funding for three national non-profit organizations:…

MS Study of Smartphone Self-Evaluation Shows Limitations and Potential

A smartphone platform may eventually enable large-scale studies of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) or other neurologic diseases, according to the findings of a recent study published in the journal Neurology, Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation. Smartphones, highly portable and popular, provide a significant opportunity to incorporate information across…

MS Patients May Be More Fit Than Tests Indicate

Findings from a recent study published in the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy showed that standard approaches to evaluating muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) might be underestimating the patients’ capacities, encouraging clinicians to prescribe less effective exercises. In the study entitled “…

Multiple Sclerosis Pilot Study Evaluating PoNS Yields Promising Results

Helius Medical Technologies, Inc., a company dedicated to neurological wellness, recently announced that the multiple sclerosis (MS) pilot study assessing the company’s investigational Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS™) device has met all of the study’s goals. PoNS is a non-invasive device that allows the delivery of neurostimulation through the…

New Muscle Spasticity Therapy Under Priority Review by FDA

PathMaker Neurosystems Inc., a clinical-stage neuromodulation company focused on non-invasive therapies for neuromotor disorders, recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the company’s MyoRegulator™ PM-2200 system the Expedited Access Pathway (EAP) designation and priority processing status. The MyoRegulator is the first product of PathMaker…

Multiple Sclerosis Patients Show Real Gains from Group Exercise Program

Results from a recent study published in the journal Rehabilitation Research and Practice showed the positive effects of community exercise programs in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Study participants showed physical improvements like higher energy levels and reduced fatigue, psychological benefits from those improvements and from group support and motivation, and…

Multiple Sclerosis Therapeutics’ Market Value to Reach $20B by 2024

RnR Market Research, a company offering market research reports on fields that include healthcare, pharmaceutical, technology, energy, and industry, recently publicized a new report on the epidemiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) and a forecast of its therapeutic market value. The report is entitled “EpiCast Report: Multiple Sclerosis – Epidemiology…

Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Emphasizes the Role of Physicians in MS Medical Treatment Decisions

The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), an organization for researchers and healthcare professionals committed to multiple sclerosis (MS) care and treatment, has recently issued a position statement claiming that prescribers should have the right to make clinical decisions on the best treatments and medications in each individual MS case.

Biogen’s Investment in Multiple Sclerosis Therapies Reinforced in Company Restructuring

Advancing key medicinal treatments like TECFIDERA (dimethyl fumarate), the most prescribed oral treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), is a key focus of a company-wide restructuring recently announced by Biogen, Inc. TECFIDERA has been shown to reduce relapse rates, slow disability progression and the number of brain lesions in patients with relapsing forms…