ResearchNow
Research Now is a quarterly
feature of Momentum,
produced by the Society’s
Research and Clinical
Programs Department.
Sara Bernstein, Editor,
Research Now
Cathy Carlson, Senior
Director, Research
Information
INSIDE:
60 Researchers search for
biomarkers
63 The Society’s research
commitment
COMSTOCk/PhOTOlIBRARy
Tackling the mystery of MS progression
by Sara Bernstein
The National MS Society
is proud to be a source of
information about MS. Our
comments are based on
professional advice, published
experience and expert opinion,
but do not represent individual
therapeutic recommendation
or prescription. For specific
information and advice, consult
your personal physician.
“we are a driving force of MS research and treatment to stop disease progression, restore function, and end
MS forever.” With these words,
the National MS Society has
thrown down the gauntlet for
all people affected by MS and
taken up the challenge of figuring
out perhaps the most mysterious aspect of this disease—why
does MS progress or worsen over
time? How can we stop it?
To begin to tackle these
questions, the Society released
a request for applications in
2010, inviting investigators to
submit proposals for designing
studies to identify risk factors
that influence MS progression
in large groups of people with
MS. This initiative is supported
by special funds provided by the
Society’s Greater Delaware Valley
Chapter.
Two teams that were recommended for funding are testing
strategies for tracking exposures
to possible risk factors in large
numbers of people with MS.
One team is taking an international approach, and the other is
Keep up on MS research
Subscribe to the monthly National MS eNEwS to get the latest research news in your inbox. Go to
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And visit nationalMSsociety.org/research regularly for full coverage on everything from research
breakthroughs to clinical trials near you.
