Time
Scientific prize may turn wishes to reality
by Vicky Uhland
When a family member was diagnosed with multiple
sclerosis about 25 years ago,
Chuck and Margery Barancik
had many questions. So they
immersed themselves in reading
everything they could about MS
and talking with the leading
experts of the time. “We were
deeply frustrated at the lack
of available treatments, and
concerned for the future,”
Chuck says.
As the couple learned more
about the disease and the research
behind it, their questions began
to take the form of a wish list.
Why, they wondered, couldn’t
someone discover a way to freeze
this degenerative disease’s progress?
What if a researcher could
develop a vaccine for people who
are at higher risk for MS—or
even find a cure?
The Baranciks went beyond
merely pondering these questions,
however. For more than two
decades, they have invested
substantially in the National MS
Society’s research portfolio. “We
felt that we had the ability—and
the responsibility—to help
propel research forward,” Chuck
says. Their contributions have
led to significant advances
in understanding MS and
approaches to treatment. They
also became MS activists: Chuck,
a retired Chicago businessman,
PHOTO BY LORI SAX
Margery and Chuck Barancik established a $100,000 annual prize
for innovation in MS research, the largest such prize ever.
What if a researcher could develop a
vaccine for people who are at higher risk
for MS—or even find a cure?
served on the Society’s research
advisory committee, and Margery
was a treasured member of the
Greater Illinois Chapter’s board
of trustees.
The Baranciks are proud to
have sponsored early support
for the Society’s acceleration
of the MS drug development
process through Fast Forward,
which funds academic groups
and emerging biotechnology
and pharmaceutical companies
involved in drug research.
“We’ve been very impressed
with the Society’s rigorous review
process in awarding grants and
we are especially pleased with
its decision to increase funding
for research,” Chuck says. He
recognizes that researchers have
made tremendous progress in
developing drugs that reduce the
frequency of MS attacks and
alleviate symptoms, but “the
magic bullet has not yet been
discovered,” he says. “Advances
are being made, but we all wish
to see the pace accelerated.”
Because MS affects a relatively
