When new concepts come to light regarding MS research and treatment, or emerging technologies reveal previously unimagined opportunities, the response of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is to gather funds and attract investigators for targeted research in those areas. The Promise 2010 campaign is committed to raising over $32 million by the year 2010 specifically for use in supporting such targeted projects. The Greater Illinois Chapter, through events like the Dinner of Champions and with the help of individual donors and corporate partners, has pledged to raise $2 million. These are the research initiatives encompassed by Promise 2010:
- Nervous System Repair and Protection: This bold new initiative for tissue repair and protection in MS involves the largest grants ever offered by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and it set the stage for translating basic lab discoveries into clinical efforts to restore nerve function in people with MS. Interdisciplinary teams will develop non-invasive tools and models, and design clinical trials to pave the way for clinical testing to restore function in people living with MS.
Download a PDF about the Nervous System Repair and Protection initiative.
- Pediatric MS Treatment Centers: There are about 8,000-10,000 children or adolescents who have MS, and another 10,000-15,000 who have experienced what may be symptoms of MS. This disease is more difficult to diagnose in children, and many pediatricians are not familiar with MS. For these reasons, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is establishing regional pediatric MS centers to set the standard for pediatric MS management and care, and offer optimal medical and psychosocial support to children and their families. The centers will also create the framework to conduct critical research both to understand how best to treat childhood MS, and to potentially unlock the mysteries of MS in adults.
Download a PDF about the Pediatric MS Treatment Centers.
- The Sonya Slifka Longitudinal MS Study: The first study of its kind in the U.S., the Sonya Slifka Longitudinal MS Study is a repository of in-depth information about the lives of people with MS. Investigators are collecting detailed data from a national sampling of 2,000 individuals. This study integrates clinical information, healthcare practices, and socio-economic data to learn what happens to people with MS over time and what factors influence the long-term course of MS.
Download a PDF about the Sonya Slifka Longitudinal MS Study.
- The MS Lesion Project: This international collaboration seeks patterns in the MS damage seen in brain tissue and attempts to correlate those findings with actual clinical signs, symptoms, and responses to therapy. This effort provides vital information on the underlying pathology of MS and the impact of specific treatments. With this knowledge, we can map out better ways of treating people who exhibit specific patterns of disease.
Download a PDF about the MS Lesion Project.
For more information about the Promise 2010 campaign, or if you are interested in making a donation to these important research initiatives, please contact Terri Connor Brankin at terri.brankin@ild.nmss.org or by calling 312-423-1182.