November 30, 2018 News by Alberto Molano, PhD CDC Launching National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System to Study MS The U.S. Congress is supporting with $5 million the National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System (NNCSS), an initiative to be launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help researchers better understand who develops neurological disorders and why. The NNCSS was authorized by Congress as a part…
November 19, 2018 News by Mary Chapman Accelerated Cure Project, National MS Society Pair to Advance Research, Patient Input Hoping to expedite multiple sclerosis (MS) research and boost patient participation, the Accelerated Cure Project (ACP) for Multiple Sclerosis is teaming with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. As part of the collaboration, the MS Society will make use of ACP’sĀ iConquerMS, a research initiative to increase the engagement…
October 31, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD National MS Society Invests in Clinical Development of Human Antibody for Progressive Forms of MS Fast Forward, a nonprofit subsidiary of theĀ National Multiple Sclerosis Society, will invest up to $330,000 to advance the clinical development of an antibody that was shown to lessen inflammation and nerve cell damage in a multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) mouse model. The funding will help develop the antibody (aĀ protein…
October 8, 2018 News by Diogo Pinto National MS Society Awards $12M to 40 Research Projects in US and Elsewhere The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS)Ā has pledged $12 million to support 40 new, multi-year research projects focused on āstopping MS, restoring lost function, and ending the disease forever,ā the organization announced in a press release. This commitment ā the last allocation set aside for research in 2018 ā…
September 25, 2018 News by Diogo Pinto With Age, Depression Lessens and Quality of Life Improves in MS Patients, Researchers Report A recent study found that elder individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience significantly less severe depressive symptoms and better quality of life than their younger counterparts. The research, āSubjective well-being differs with age in multiple sclerosis: A brief report,ā was published in the journal Rehabilitation Psychology.
August 17, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias 2 Short Films Take Different Approaches to Portraying Life with MS Over the past week, I’ve come across two short films that are designed to show what it’s like living with MS. But they have two very different approaches. Interested in MS research? Sign up…
August 3, 2018 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Remington College Opens Partnership with National MS Society by Raising $4,000 to Advance Goals Remington CollegeĀ initiated its partnership with the National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ by raising more than $4,000 to support the society and its efforts to advance research into multiple sclerosis and care for patients. The money was raised at campus events that markedĀ World MS DayĀ inĀ May. In addition to encouraging…
February 28, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD MS Expert at University of Buffalo Receives Impact Award from National MS Society The National Multiple Sclerosis Society gave its Impact Award to Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, MD, for her research and patient care in multiple sclerosis (MS). According to the society, the award is intended for “a business or individual whose leadership helps ensure those with MS live their best lives.” Weinstock-Guttman…
February 21, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD University at Buffalo to Do Cognitive Training and Myelin Repair Studies University at BuffaloĀ researchers are working on ways to improve multiple sclerosis patients’ cognitive function and to repair damage to the mylein coating that protects nerve cells. TheĀ National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ awarded the researchers more than $1.1 million to conduct the studies. One, āThe Effects of Working Memory…
February 14, 2018 Columns by Mike Knight The MS Balancing Act: Steady As We Go Gait and balance issues and MS go together like peanut butter and chocolate.Ā At least they do to me. In one way or another, theyāve been in the foreground of my life since I was diagnosed in 2013.
October 18, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #MSParis2017 – Progressive MS Research Among ECTRIMS Highlights, National MS Society Says The 7th Joint ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Meeting, taking place in Paris this month, is one of the largest scientific conferences focused solely on multiple sclerosis (MS), and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will be among the many interested parties attending. To get a feeling for meeting highlights and presentations the…
August 18, 2017 News by Charles Moore Twin Cities MuckFest MS, Mud- and Obstacle-filled Run for MS Society, Set for Saturday The Twin Cities MuckFest MS is set for Saturday at the Scott County Fair in Jordan, Minnesota. All money raised in the event will go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to support its work in helping people living with multiple sclerosis and in advancing research toward better treatments and a cure. The MuckFest MS is a fun mud run that has raised millions for the Society, and requires no special training or equipment ā the only things needed, organizers says, are sneakers, a sense of humor and a willingness to get a little mucky. Participants run on a designed 5K course that features super-sized obstacles and lots of mud. A first wave of runners in the Aug. 19 event will take to the course at 9 a.m., followed by successive groups every 20 minutes throughout the day. "We muck it because ā¦ We want to end MS," MuckFest MS proclaims on its webpage. "Even though the event is built for laughs from start to finish, weāre on a serious mission to advance cutting-edge research and support the life-changing work of the National MS Society." Runners are advised to wear closed-toe sneakers, and cleats of any kind are not permitted. An older of soiled choice of clothing is welcome, but should be clothes that won't restrict movement and will provide protection as runners move through the obstacles. Pants or shorts are acceptable. Many muckers, organizers say, choose to wear thin work or athletic gloves to better grip obstacles and ropes. All MuckFest MS events are held in wet muddy fields, so there is little flat terrain. They are not ADA-standard accessible, wheelchair runners will have to move through grass and dirt. The organizers, however, promise to do their best to make portions of the event accessible to people with disabilities. Participation is $105 on the day of event, plus processing fee, and those planning to register Saturday are asked to arrive by 10 a.m. Online registration is now closed. Spectators are welcome without charge. According to the MS Society, "the MuckFest MS runners and volunteers have raised over $27 million to support the life-changing work of the National MS Society" to date. "That means more cutting-edge research and continued support for people living with MS in your community." Multiple Sclerosis News Today plans to interview an event participant ā Beth Kantor, a retired nurse from Plymouth, Minnesota, who has relapsing MS ā after the event. Kantor is also volunteering at this year's MuckFest MS, helping others as they too take to the course. The first wave/start time is at 9:00 a.m Saturday, August 19, and then every 20 minutes throughout the day. More information, including a look at the obstacles, is available here. A blog by past Muckfesters, offering ideas and suggestions, is also available. MuckFest MS runs take place in a dozen U.S. cities each year. AbbVie is the national sponsor, and local sponsors for MuckFest MS 2017 include Acorda and Genentech. A national event sponsor is The Traveler Beer Co.
July 19, 2017 Columns by Judy Lynn Find Your Strength and Adjust Your Mindset The second module in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s positive psychology program,Ā “Everyday Matters,”Ā is called “Adjusting Our Mindset,” or āthe fulcrum and the lever.ā In science, the law of the lever states that power into the lever equals the power out, and the ratio of output to…
May 26, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #CMSC17 – Single Session of Ball-throwing Exercise Improves Balance Control in MS, Study Shows Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) regain part of their balance control after a single training session of ball-throwing exercises, finds a study supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Researchers presented theirĀ study, āA Single-Session Training of Ball Throwing Exercise Improves Balance Control in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis,ā at…
May 11, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD NMSS, British Partners to Launch Phase 3 Trial to Determine Efficacy of Simvastatin in SPMS Patients The National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ (NMSS), together with its British partners, plans to launchĀ a Phase 3 trial in the next few months to investigate whether simvastatin ā a cheap drug that controls cholesterol levels ā may be a suitable treatment for people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). The trial,…
April 17, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Genentech, Novartis, Sanofi Genzyme Support Nationwide 2017 ‘Walk MS’ Events Genentech, NovartisĀ and Sanofi Genzyme are sponsoring this yearās Walk MS, an annualĀ event to raise funds for multiple sclerosis (MS) and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). Genentech, a division of Roche, returns as an MS Walk sponsor for the second year and will promote the āMS Voiceā…
March 23, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD The Countdown Is on for This Year’s MuckFest MS Fundraising Series The 2017 version of MuckFest MS, the five-kilometer fundraising mud-run series, will begin in a few weeks. The event, organized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Event 360, features more than 18 obstacles in muddy settings. They include theĀ swing set, muck off, skid mark, and more. Participants…
March 17, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Ocrevus and the Hope of ‘Ending MS Forever’: Interview with MS Societyās Tim Coetzee The potential approval of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab)Ā this monthĀ supports the idea that, someday, a world free of multiple sclerosis (MS) is possible, according to Dr. Tim Coetzee, the National Multiple Sclerosis Societyās chief advocacy, services and research officer. While Coetzee ā and the society he representsĀ ā realize the potential of…
March 17, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Full Transcript of Interview with Tim Coetzee of the National MS Society Here is a transcript ofĀ Multiple Sclerosis News Today‘s interview with Dr. Tim Coetzee ā chief advocacy, services and research officer for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society ā about the importance of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s awaitedĀ decisionĀ onĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), and the other ongoing research. Tim…
March 8, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD National MS Society Forms Coalition With 10 Other Groups on Obamacare Reform As Republicans in Congress prepare to repeal and replaceĀ the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ andĀ 10 other nonpartisan patient groups are urging lawmakers in Washington to keep health insurance affordable, accessible, adequate and understandable for all Americans. The 11 organizations will evaluate all proposed changes to the…
January 20, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Patients with Spasticity Needed for Study of Extended-release Baclofen Capsules A new clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of extended-release baclofen capsules in relieving spasticity related to multiple sclerosis (MS) isĀ calling for 135 people with any form of the disease. The study, taking place in six U.S. states, is sponsored by Sun Pharma, the drug’s developer. Baclofen, an approved MS…
January 18, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Resilience Linked to Social Satisfaction and Quality of Life, but Not Physical Function in MS, Other Diseases Resilience, the ability of a person to cope with change and solve problems, is associated with satisfaction with social roles and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other chronic diseases. However, it is not linked to a patient’s physical function, according to the results of a…
October 17, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD National Multiple Sclerosis Society Commits $10.5M to Fund 42 Research Efforts The National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ announced thatĀ is investing more than $10.5 million to support an anticipatedĀ 42 new research projects intoĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), part of its commitmentĀ to scientificĀ efforts aimed atĀ stopping MS, restoring lost function to patients, and, ultimately, ending the disease forever. The dedicated fundingĀ is part of aĀ projected society investment of…
August 26, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Can Diet Ease MS Fatigue? Clinical Trial, Now Recruiting, Wants to Find Out The National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ announced that itĀ has dedicatedĀ more than $1 millionĀ to support a clinical study at the University of Iowa that will compareĀ two types ofĀ diet and their effectiveness in easing fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). “The National MS Society is committed to identifying wellness solutions to…
May 3, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Society Awards UT Researcher $490K to Study Link Between Blood Flow and Cognition The National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ has awarded Dr. Bart Rypma, an associate professor at the Center for BrainHealth at theĀ University of Texas at Dallas, aĀ more than $490,000 grant to studyĀ how changes in blood flow in the brain mightĀ affectĀ cognition in people withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). The grant buildsĀ on previous research…
April 7, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Patients Asked to Take Part in Survey of Risk/Benefit Considerations in Choosing Treatments The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is funding a new survey to understand how people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) weigh risks against benefits when choosing MS therapies. The survey was developed by Dr. Robert Fox, a neurologist, working with colleagues at the Cleveland Clinic and the MS patient…
March 24, 2016 News by admin MS Animal Study Suggests That Placental Cells Might Serve as Future Stem Cell Therapy Research on a specific type ofĀ stem cell found in the placenta, known asĀ decidua-derived mesenchymal stem cells (DMSC), suggests these cells might be the source of futureĀ treatments for multiple sclerosis. The report,Ā “Restrained Th17 response and myeloid cell infiltration into the central nervous system by human decidua-derived mesenchymal stem…
March 18, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc Resistance Training in Ms Patients Found to Improve Hip Strength, Walking Ability Researchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineĀ released preliminary results of an ongoing study intoĀ an effective and progressive resistance training program to improve hip strength and walking ability, areas ofĀ concern in neurodegenerative diseasesĀ like multiple sclerosis (MS). The program, consisting of exercises using resistant…
March 15, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc New MS Survey Looks into Patients’ Appraisal of Risks, Benefits When Choosing Therapies A large-scale online survey, funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Ā and developed by researchers,Ā is investigating how multiple sclerosis (MS) patients perceive and evaluate the risks and benefits of available therapies. InvestigatorsĀ encourage MS patients to participate in the survey, titled āMultiple Sclerosis Risk Tolerance,ā which can be…
February 18, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD US Moves Step Closer to National MS, Neurological Disease Registry with Senate Panel Vote The U.S. Senate health committee recently passed the āAdvancing Research for Neurological Diseases Act of 2015ā (S. 849), sponsored by Sens.Ā Johnny IsaksonĀ and Chris Murphy, whichĀ wouldĀ create a nationwide system to track the incidence and prevalence of neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), and thatĀ one day might help lead to a…