The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is committed to raising money to fund research. Each year the Greater Carolinas Chapter hosts over twenty fundraising events which, combined with individual donations, help to fund research. Annually the chapter contributes 56% of all funds raised to research. In 2012, the total amount contributed for research will be approximately $989,182.
In October 2011 the society launched the MS NOW (No Opportunity Wasted) research campaign, which is dedicated to stopping the disease, restoring what’s been lost, and ending MS forever. The National MS Society supports and funds research activities spanning ALL research stages, including early discovery research, translational research that brings promising ideas forward into actual therapeutic solutions for testing, and clinical trials. Our unique approach drives the pursuit of all promising avenues that can impact those living with multiple sclerosis.
Locally, there are researchers working hard to end MS forever.
Locally Funded MS Researchers
Dr. Jenny Ting, Ph.D.
Dr. Jenny Ting, Ph.D. was awarded the “Collaborative MS Research Center Award” in an amount of $767,251 to explore steps leading to injury to the central nervous system in MS and new strategies to stop the disease.
Dr. Ting is the William Rand Kenan Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is the Director of the Center for Translational Immunology as well as the co-director of the Institute of Inflammatory Diseases. She has been honored by many organizations and has served as a scientific peer reviewer for the National MS Society, National Institutes of Health and others.
Hear Dr. Ting talk about her research in this video interview.
Dr. Wei-chun Chou, Ph.D.
Dr. Wei-chun Chou, Ph.D. was awarded $169,946 to investigate a possible trigger for immune attacks on the brain and spinal cord for clues to stopping MS activity.
Dr. Chou is a postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received the Tsung-jen Chen Award of immunological research development, the Excellent Graduate Student research award from the National Taiwan University, and the Tien-Te Lee award for a distinguished thesis. Dr. Chou hopes to make a significant contribution to finding new strategies to alleviate the symptoms of MS.
Dr. Glenn Matsushima, Ph.D.
Dr. Glenn Matsushima, Ph.D. was awarded $527,262 to explore a therapeutic strategy for improving survival of cells that are needed to repair nerve-insulating myelin in MS.
Dr. Matsushima is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a long time MS researcher who has uncovered the function of several important molecules affecting the immune response.
Hear Dr. Matsushima talk about his research in this video interview.
Dr. Mari Shinohara, Ph.D.
Dr. Mari Shinohara, Ph.D. was awarded $538,553 to study immune inflammation in a model of MS for insights into stopping the progression of MS.
Dr. Shinohara is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Immunology at Duke University. She has earned the CONCERN Award.
Hear Dr. Shinohara talk about her research in this video interview.
Dr. Simon Gregory, Ph.D.
Dr. Simon Gregory Ph.D. was awarded $151,250 to investigate the function that a gene may play in immune responses and how this may contribute to susceptibility to MS.
Dr. Gregory is an Associate Professor at Duke University's Center for Human Genetics. He is also the Director of the Duke Bioinformatics Workshop and member of the graduate faculty of the Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology,and University Program in Genetics and Genomics programs.
Hear Dr. Gregory talk about his research in this video interview.
