July 20, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Study That May Benefit MS Patients Awarded Grant from National Stem Cell Foundation A research project that aims to explore how astrocytes can be manipulated to stop or prevent neurodegeneration has received a grant from the National Stem Cell Foundation (NSCF). The projectĀ will be conducted by the The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute. TheĀ work developed by Dr. Valentina…
July 14, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Endece Granted New U.S. Patent for NDC-1308, Therapy to Induce Remyelination in MS Endece wasĀ recently issued an additional U.S. patent for its lead investigational product, NDC-1308, being developed to induce remyelination in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and prevent disease progression. Currently in late preclinical development, NDC-1308Ā is designed to repair the myelin sheath of demyelinated axons (nerve fibers), a major cause…
May 11, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Fluorosamine Seen to Boost Remyelination in MS Mouse Model by Blocking Scarring Molecules AĀ substance called fluorosamine was seen to boost remyelination in mice by preventing the synthesis of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and by promoting oligodendrocyte function. The findings showed that targeting molecules that block remyelination may be a promising therapeutic approach in multiple sclerosis (MS). Upregulation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans ā large molecules…
February 4, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc Experimental MS Therapy Seen to Promote Myelin Regeneration in Preclinical Study RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.,Ā announced the publication of a research article detailing the process by whichĀ Thymosin beta 4 (TĪ²4), the company’s novel therapeutic peptide, effectively promoted the remyelination process in two separate animal models commonly used for multiple sclerosis (MS) research. The article, āThymosin beta4 promotes oligodendrogenesis in the demyelinating…
January 29, 2016 News by admin MS Drug May Prevent Brain Damage in Premature Babies Premature infants are known to be at risk of cerebral injury due to oxygen deprivation and later problems with cognitive development, but anĀ immunomodulating drug mostly used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) may be of help. Researchers in Germany and Switzerland reported that the drug fingolimod (Gilenya)Ā prevented brain…
December 30, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD NIH Grant to Advance Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Targeting Remyelination Novoron Bioscience, Inc., a biotech company focused on developing therapies for disorders of the central nervous system, recently announced that it has received a $680,000 National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to assess the potential of a new therapeutic approach to induce remyelination in multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is…
December 16, 2015 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD MS May Be Triggered by the Death of Brain Cells Researchers are proposing for a first timeĀ thatĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) is triggered by the death of a specific cell population within the central nervous system called oligodendrocytes. The study, titled āOligodendrocyte death results in immune-mediated CNS demyelination,ā was published in the journal Nature Neuroscience. Oligodendrocytes,…
December 10, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD In Multiple Sclerosis Study, Vitamin D Shown to Aid Myelin Repair A new study in the Journal of Cell BiologyĀ suggestsĀ that vitamin D activates a receptor involved in myelin regeneration in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study, entitled āVitamin D receptorāretinoid X receptor heterodimer signaling regulates oligodendrocyte progenitor cell differentiation,ā and was led by researchers…
December 2, 2015 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc MS Researchers Gather in Texas to Share Findings, Advance Ideas The Fifth Tykeson Fellows ConferenceĀ broughtĀ senior multiple sclerosis (MS) scientists together with nearly 100Ā young research and clinical fellows from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS Society of Canada, and MS International Federation to promote collaboration, networking, and the sharing of research data with the goal of improving patientsā lives and developing…
November 20, 2015 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc Myelin Dysfunction in MS and Other White Matter Diseases Found to Be Linked to Specific Gene Mutations In a new study, researchers have revealed the previously unknown function of the FAM126A gene in supporting myelination (the formation of the myelin sheath that protects neurons), a critically important processĀ in the development and recovery of acute exacerbations in multiple sclerosis (MS). The research paper, entitled āThe leukodystrophy protein…
November 20, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD 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 Ā£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 Societyās 2015 grant round totaling Ā£1,979,879. All applications…
November 13, 2015 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Could Remyelination Be Achieved in MS Using an Anti-Inflammatory Treatment? In a recent study entitled āPromotion of Remyelination by Sulfasalazine in a Transgenic Zebrafish Model of Demyelination,ā researchers investigated whetherĀ sulfasalazine treatment, an anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating drug, could promote remyelination of axons in an organism model of demyelination diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The study was published in the…
July 2, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD National MS Society Awards WSU Professor With Grant to Develop New MS Research Model Alexander Gow, Ph.D., a professor at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, has just been awarded a research grant by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to fund his exploration of a novel model of MS pathology. Gow is a holder of theĀ Charles H. Gershenson Distinguished Fellow Professor…
March 17, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Hypertension Medication Found to Offer Protective Effect Against Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms in Mice A new study recently published in the journal Nature CommunicationsĀ led by researchers at The University of ChicagoĀ revealed that a drug for hypertension has a protective effect against symptoms characteristic of multiple sclerosis (MS) in mouse models. The study is entitled āPharmaceutical integrated…