Society Commits $14.2 Million for 45 New MS Research Projects - National Multiple Sclerosis Society
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Spring 2018
cri cal ques ons we must answer that drive
Society Commits $14.2 the Society’s research priori es:
Million for 45 New MS Why does MS affect certain people and
not others?
Research Projects What is the cause of MS?
How do we stop MS progression?
How do we repair the damage caused by
The Na onal Mul ple Sclerosis Society has MS?
How do we reverse symptoms and
just commi ed more than $14.2 million to
support 45 new MS research projects. This promote wellness?
financial commitment is the latest in the Soci- The 45 new projects seek answers to
ety’s relentless research effort, inves ng a these ques ons. For example, several inves -
projected $34 million in 2018 alone to sup- gators are exploring the increasing evidence
port new and ongoing studies around the that gut bacteria differ in people with MS and
world. play a role in triggering MS and progression
These new research projects and training (p. 3). Others are inves ga ng how to pro-
awards strengthen the Society’s comprehen- mote the repair of nerve‐insula ng myelin
sive approach addressing cri cal research and using exis ng medica ons (p. 13) and tes ng
scien fic workforce priori es. how to bolster cell therapy strategies (p.17).
The Society is the largest private funder of Others are focusing on addressing trouble-
MS research in the world and is recognized as some symptoms, including a team tes ng two
a global leader in driving MS research. We non-pharmacological approaches to manag‐
s mulate studies worldwide, leverage oppor- ing pain in people with MS (p.21).
tuni es, foster collabora on a, and shape the
research landscape to find solu ons for the
urgent needs of people with MS. Inside…
To stop MS in its tracks, restore what has New Projects: Risk Factors ...................2
been lost, and end MS forever, there are s ll New Projects: Pathology ......................5
New Projects: Progression ...................9
Clinical Care Fellows ..........................10
New Projects: Neuroprotec on/
Repair ............................................13
New Pilot Research Awards ...............14
New Projects: Symptoms, Rehab,
Wellness ........................................20
Collabora ve Center Award ...............22
New Research Spring 2018 page 1Risk Factors: Why do some people get MS, and assess the effect of components of the
MS and others don’t? microbiome on clinical measures of MS disabil-
Although tremendous progress has been ity, MRI ac vity and response to treatments. His
made in iden fying key biological pathways team will also study the effect of MS gut bacte-
that contribute to MS risk, the cause is s ll ria in a mouse model of MS.
unknown. Preven ng MS for future genera-
What’s Next: Be er characteriza on of these
ons requires a deep understanding of what
aspects of the gut microbiome in MS holds po-
triggers MS, how triggers lead to the devel- ten al for understanding the disease process
opment of the disease, and how to protect and developing therapeu cs that target the mi-
against it. crobiome.
* * *
Amir‐Hadi Maghzi, MD Jorge Oksenberg, PhD
Brigham and Women's Hospital University of California, San Francisco
Boston, Massachuse s San Francisco, California
Award: Clinician Scien st Award Award: Research Grants
Category: Stopping MS Category: Ending MS
Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2021 Funding: $206,246 Term: 4/1/2018-3/31/2020 Funding: $595,690
Title: Inves ga on of the microbiome in mul - Title: Maintenance and enhancement of a core
ple sclerosis and its rela onship to immunologic DNA repository for mul ple sclerosis
and clinical features of disease Summary: Researchers are maintaining and en-
Summary: Inves gators are researching gut bac- hancing a blood biospecimen bank as a shared
teria in MS and its rela onship to immune ac v- resource to iden fy gene c variants and other
ity and other features of the disease. factors that contribute to risk and gene c sus-
cep bility in MS.
Background: The ny universe of bacteria and
other microbes that inhabit the intes nes, Background: MS is a complex disease. Accessi-
known as the gut microbiome, has been shown bility to human biological materials and linking
to differ in people with MS compared to people these materials to clinical and laboratory data is
who do not have MS, and the microbiome also cri cal to support the basic and transla onal re-
changes with MS disease-modifying treatment. search efforts needed to bring significant im-
A central ques on is the degree to which the provements in diagnosis, treatment, and pre-
changes in the microbiome are linked to clinical, ven on of MS. The MS DNA Biobank was estab-
immunologic and MRI measures of the disease, lished two decades ago as a result of transform-
and whether there is a way to posi vely change a ve advances in human gene cs to enable
the microbiome in a way that mi gates disease studies of MS suscep bility. Supported by the
ac vity. Na onal MS Society, this repository has contrib-
uted thousand of high quality de-iden fied bio-
The Study: In this study, Amir-Hadi Maghzi, MD, logical samples to studies with different re-
and colleagues aim to understand how the im- search goals. However, the task of acquiring
mune system interacts with the microbiome in and managing centralized collec ons of
National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyRisk Factors, cont. why women are more suscep ble to mul ple
biospecimens is evolving in response to the sclerosis than men.
changing landscape of research priori es and
technological advances. Now the biospecimen Background: MS affects females at least twice as
bank is expanding its size and scope to allow the frequently as males, but the reasons for this are
comple on of gene c screens, the discovery of not well understood. Over 200 gene varia ons
biomarkers of disease severity, and tes ng nov- have been linked to increasing people’s suscep-
el hypotheses focused on disease progression. bility to ge ng MS, but so far none explain
why women are more suscep ble.
The Study: The team is maintaining and expand-
ing its core biological repository of people living The Study: Dr. Patsopoulos and his team are col-
with MS, family members and unrelated con- lec ng large amounts of gene c data to look for
trols, linking it to a sophis cated database sys- gene c differences between males and females
tem for storing and pairing detailed sample in- that may play a role in suscep bility to MS. This
ventory, clinical, demographic, and laboratory informa on is being collected from publicly
data. Blood samples are drawn for storage of available databases as well as that of the Inter-
serum, cells, DNA and RNA. The team also as- na onal MS Gene cs Consor um, in which this
sembles ques onnaires and interviews to pro- team is involved. The team is using advanced
vide context for the biological samples. These mathema cal modeling and analysis of single
evalua ons assess historical as well as contem- cells to look for sex-related differences that may
porary exposures to poten al risk factors and be important in MS.
document co-morbidi es, and clinical history.
What’s Next: Results from this study may lead
What’s Next? This resource offers outstanding to a be er understanding of the cause of MS, as
opportuni es for researchers to iden fy and well as personalized predic ons that will allow
characterize genes and other factors that influ- be er selec on of therapies and improved pre-
ence MS suscep bility and disease course, dic on of disease progression.
which should translate into clinically useful bi-
omarkers and reveal targets for new therapies. Anne‐Katrin Pröbstel, MD
University of California, San Francisco
Nikos Patsopoulos, MD, PhD San Francisco, California
Brigham and Women's Hospital Award: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Boston, Massachuse s Category: Stopping MS
Award: Research Grants Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2021 Funding: TBD
Category: Ending MS Title: Gut-Brain-Axis: Dissec ng the crosstalk be-
Term: 4/1/2018-3/31/2021 Funding: $599,277 tween B cells and the gut microbiota in mul ple
sclerosis
Funded in part by the Al Otaiba Family
Summary: Researchers at the University of Cali-
Title: Sex specific gene cs of mul ple sclerosis
fornia, San Francisco are iden fying harmful gut
Summary: Researchers are analyzing large sets
bacteria in people with MS and tes ng their role
of gene c data to iden fy genes that explain
in disease triggering and progression.
New Research Spring 2018 page 3Risk Factors, cont.
Background: Types of immune cells called B
cells play an important role in MS. There is
growing awareness that the bacteria in the gut
Exploring the impacts of
of people with MS are different from bacteria in
people without MS, and that harmful bacteria gut bacteria on MS
found in the gut of people with MS may have
detrimental effects on MS disease ac vity and disease initiation and
possibly on B cell func on.
activity may inform the
The Study: Dr. Pröbstel and her team are inves-
ga ng the role of gut bacteria in MS on B cells development of
and inflamma on. They are working to iden fy
the gut bacteria in people with MS that may be
harmful. They are transferring these harmful
probiotic strategies
bacteria to mice to see if they make the MS-like
disease called EAE worse. They are also tes ng
whether elimina ng these harmful bacteria im-
proves EAE. Finally, they are determining Background: MS is an immune-mediated dis-
whether these harmful bacteria are present in ease. Growing evidence suggests that the bacte-
the blood or spinal fluid in people with MS. ria and the immune system in the gut may mod-
ulate the immune a ack on the brain in MS. A
What’s Next: Exploring the impacts of gut bac- type of gene c material present in the gut (and
teria on MS disease ini a on and ac vity may elsewhere) called microRNA is different in peo-
inform the development of probio c strategies ple with MS and in mice with an MS-like disease
to treat people with MS. called EAE, compared to people and mice that
don’t have MS.
Howard Weiner, MD
Brigham and Women's Hospital The Study: The team is developing a novel thera-
Boston, Massachuse s py approach for MS based on microRNA ob-
Award: Research Grants tained from feces. They are examining how fecal
Category: Stopping MS microRNAs change in MS and EAE and are then
Term: 4/1/2018-3/31/2021 Funding: $551,752 tes ng if these microRNAs can treat or prevent
Title: The role of fecal microRNAs in CNS auto- EAE. They are also working to understand how
immune inflammatory disease these microRNAs work.
Summary: Researchers at Harvard Medical
School are inves ga ng a type of molecule What’s Next: The results of this study may lead
called microRNA that is found in the gut and to development of synthe c microRNAs that
that may someday be a treatment for MS. could be used to treat people with MS.
National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyPathology: What is the cause of MS? regulates the func on of microglia in the brain.
The group has shown that SYK in microglia regu-
Much has been learned about immune sys- lates inflamma on and ssue damage in the
tem ac vity in the relapsing-remi ng phase brain and contributes to the stabiliza on of MS-
of MS and this knowledge has led to the de- like disease in mice. Now they are tes ng
velopment of effec ve disease-modifying whether SYK controls the ability of microglia to
therapies. Less understood is the rela on- clean up cellular debris and whether SYK damp-
ship between ini al immune ac vity and ens harmful autoimmune reac ons in the brain.
progressive neurodegenera on and how To test these ideas, they are using a mouse
other immune factors par cipate in the pro- model of MS in which the microglia lack SYK.
gressive phase of MS. Iden fying the causes
of MS, and the underlying mechanisms and What’s Next: Be er understanding the biologi-
biological pathways involved in MS injury to cal ac vity of microglia and SYK may lead to the
development of novel approaches to stop MS.
the brain and spinal cord, will expose new
targets for the development of treatments to
Roland Henry, PhD
stop the damage that causes disability. University of California, San Francisco
* * * San Francisco, California
Elizabeth Frost, PhD Award: Research Grants
University of Virginia Category: Stopping MS
Charlo esville, Virginia Term: 4/1/2018-3/31/2021 Funding: $738,084
Award: Postdoctoral Fellowships Title: Enabling Mul center MRI Studies of Neu-
Category: Stopping MS rodegenera on in Mul ple Sclerosis
Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2021 Funding: $181,754 Summary: Researchers are gathering and stand-
Title: Spleen tyrosine kinase regula on of micro- ardizing exis ng MRI and gene c informa on
glial func ons in experimental autoimmune en- from people with MS across the globe to accel-
cephalomyeli s erate research into progressive MS.
Summary: Researchers are inves ga ng wheth-
er an enzyme plays helpful roles in regula ng Background: Neurodegenera on, which is dam-
the func on of a cell type called microglia in MS. age and loss of nervous system ssues, occurs in
MS, especially in progressive forms of the dis-
Background: New strategies are needed to treat ease. Therapies are needed to stop neurodegen-
people with MS. One poten al strategy is to tar- era on, but research is hindered in part because
get a type of immune cell called “microglia,” neurodegenera on varies among people, and
which are normally found in the brain and spinal ways of detec ng brain shrinkage, or atrophy,
cord, but which may func on abnormally and are not standard. In addi on, various genes may
cause harm in MS. The normal roles of microglia play a role in neurodegenera on. To understand
in the healthy brain are to clean up cellular de- neurodegenera on and accelerate development
bris and to regulate other immune cells. of be er therapies, researchers need to analyze
the gene c factors and imaging results obtained
The Study: Dr. Frost’s team is inves ga ng how from many people with MS worldwide.
an enzyme called SYK (spleen tyrosine kinase)
New Research Spring 2018 page 5Pathology, cont. Xiaoxia Li, PhD
The Study: Not all ins tu ons perform imag- Cleveland Clinic Founda on
Cleveland, Ohio
ing and gene c analysis the same way. Thus,
trying to combine informa on obtained from Award: Research Grants
Category: Stopping MS
mul ple loca ons is difficult and me-
consuming. Dr. Henry and his team are using Term: 4/1/2018-3/31/2021 Funding: $732,861
Title: Cellular and molecular mechanisms of the
exis ng imaging and gene c data that have
been gathered worldwide to find ways to inflammasome in CNS inflamma on
Summary: Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic
quan tate neurodegenera on and perform
the first inves ga on of the rela onship be- are inves ga ng the importance of harmful im-
mune system molecules in an animal model of
tween genes and neurodegenera on in MS.
They are developing ways to standardize ex- MS.
is ng data from mul ple loca ons so that they
can be compared. They are also collec ng MRI
Background: In MS, the immune system a acks
scans from loca ons worldwide into a central
database where they can then be standard- components of the brain and spinal cord, caus-
ing damage and o en devasta ng neurological
ized. Gene c informa on relevant to mul ple
sclerosis is also being gathered from mul ple symptoms. One component of the immune sys-
tem, called “Th17” T cells, is thought to play a
sites for analysis.
harmful role in MS. The ac vity of Th17 cells is
controlled by a group of messenger molecules
What’s Next: Gathering and standardizing im-
aging and gene c data will allow researchers called “cytokines.” One cytokine, IL-1beta, may
play a key role in the harmful ac vity of Th17
to more quickly answer ques ons, without the
need to acquire and standardize the infor- cells in MS, but the importance of IL-1beta and
how IL-1beta is produced are not known.
ma on each me. These efforts will accelerate
research in progressive MS.
The Study: Dr. Li and her team are using a mod-
el of MS in mice called EAE. They are tes ng the
idea that proteins found in various immune cells
control the produc on of IL-1beta, which then
leads to ac va on and maintenance of Th17
cells, thus worsening EAE and MS. To explore
this, they are using mice that lack various mem-
bers of this group of proteins, or IL-1beta or its
docking site, the IL-1beta receptor.
What’s Next: Understanding which molecules
are responsible for causing harmful inflammato-
ry events in EAE, and by implica on in MS, will
suggest new therapeu c targets to treat MS that
are more specific.
National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyPathology, cont. Zahra Moinfar, MD, PhD
Andrew Mendiola, PhD University of California, San Francisco
The J. David Gladstone Ins tutes San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California Award: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Award: Postdoctoral Fellowships Category: Stopping MS
Category: Stopping MS Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2021 Funding: $177,243
Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2021 Funding: $177,243 Title: Pathogenic T cells that target NMO auto-
Title: In vivo imaging and profiling of mecha- an gen aquaporin-4
nisms of T-cell recruitment and ac va on during Summary: Researchers are inves ga ng similari-
neuroinflammatory disease es and differences between MS and a related
Summary: Researchers are inves ga ng how a but dis nct disease called NMO.
protein found in the blood called fibrinogen pro- Background: A disease called neuromyeli s op -
motes a damaging immune response in MS. ca (NMO) has certain similari es and certain
differences compared to MS. Studying NMO can
Background: In MS, the blood-brain barrier reveal fundamental differences between the
(BBB) does not func on properly and as a result, two diseases, which is important for proper di-
proteins found in the blood leak out of blood agnosis and treatment of each. Understanding
vessels into the brain and spinal cord. Fibrino- similari es can help increase understanding of
gen is a protein normally found in the blood and both diseases.
is kept out of the brain due to the BBB. However
in both early and progressive forms of MS, fi- The Study: Dr. Moinfar and her team are exam-
brinogen is detected in the brain and may inter- ining how a class of immune cells called T cells
act with immune cells leading to a damaging in- that can be harmful are ac vated in NMO. The
flammatory response by the immune system. team is using mice with gene c dele ons in
NMO-related molecules to answer ques ons
The Study: Using a mouse model of MS called about T cells in NMO. They are also tes ng to
EAE, Dr. Mendiola and his team are tes ng how what extent bacteria found in the gut can im-
fibrinogen works to s mulate harmful cells. pact NMO or MS. To test this, they are transfer-
They are using mice in which individual types of ring stool samples from people with MS or NMO
immune cells are labeled with fluorescent dyes. into mice and evalua ng how the T cells in the
This allows cells in the spinal cord of living mice mice are affected by these transfers.
to be viewed in a microscope. The fibrinogen in
these mice has been gene cally inac vated, so What’s Next: These studies will increase under-
they are comparing mice with func onal vs. non standing of the harmful biological steps that
-func onal fibrinogen. The team is able to study lead to NMO and provide insight into what ac v-
labeled immune cells as EAE develops over me i es dis nguish NMO and MS.
in the presence or absence of fibrinogen.
What’s Next: Understanding how fibrinogen in-
fluences immune cell func ons in a mouse mod-
el of MS may lead to new MS therapies.
New Research Spring 2018 page 7Pathology, cont. Ari Waisman, PhD
Russell Shinohara, PhD University Medical Center of the Johannes
University of Pennsylvania Gutenberg-University Mainz
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mainz, Germany
Award: Research Grants Award: Research Grants
Category: Stopping MS Category: Stopping MS
Term: 4/1/2018-3/31/2021 Funding: $585,061 Term: 4/1/2018-3/31/2021 Funding: $484,464
Title: A traveling subject study of replicability in Title: The role and mode-of-ac on of IL-17 in the
conven onal and advanced MRI MS biomarkers CNS
Summary: Researchers are developing sta s - Summary: Researchers are iden fying the de-
cal methods to reduce differences in images ob- struc ve ac vi es that are launched by an im-
tained on different MRI scanners to improve mune messenger for clues to stopping MS.
the accuracy of MRI data from people with MS. Background: The neurological problems that
people with MS experience are a result of dam-
Background: Magne c resonance imaging age to brain and spinal cord (central nervous
(MRI) is widely used in people with MS to look system – CNS) ssues by their own immune sys-
for lesions and other changes in the brain, and tems. Prof. Waisman’s group and others have
it is also one tool used to determine outcomes found that specific immune cells that produce a
in clinical trials for MS. However, because imag- messenger protein called IL-17 are involved in
ing scanners differ from loca on to loca on, this damaging process. It is not clear yet how IL-
comparing images taken in different places is 17 facilitates this damage.
difficult.
The Study: Prof. Waisman and team are iden -
The Study: To address this need, the team is fying which cell types in the brain and spinal
sending 12 people with MS to undergo MRI at cord respond to IL-17 during the inflammatory
four different loca ons (University of Pennsyl- immune response in MS, and exactly how they
vania, Johns Hopkins University, Brigham and do it. They are using mice with the MS-like dis-
Women’s Hospital, and the Na onal Ins tutes ease EAE to answer these ques ons. By gene c
of Health). The images obtained for an individu- manipula on they will make certain cells of the
al person on different scanners within a short CNS incapable of sensing IL-17, which will or will
me frame should be the same, but the team not have consequences for their par cipa on in
knows that they are not. Thus, they will analyze the overall disease progression. This way, they
differences among images taken on different will tease out how nerve and other cells respond
scanners and then develop sta s cal approach- during inflamma on.
es to harmonize the images.
What’s Next: Be er understanding of mecha-
What’s Next: Results from this study will im- nisms that lead to nervous system damage will
prove the accuracy of interpreta on of imaging enable the design of new strategies to stop MS.
data obtained in mul -site clinical trials, allow-
ing more accurate assessment of the effec ve-
ness of new MS treatments.
National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyProgression: How do we stop MS mune cells and brain cells and influence their
func on. Abnormali es in gut bacteria have
progression?
been iden fied in people with MS and may be
MS progression o en occurs early in the dis- related to the observed abnormali es in bile ac-
ease, even while the brain compensates for id metabolism. Now Dr. Bhargava’s team is in-
injury and even in people successfully treat- ves ga ng whether supplemen ng bile acids in
ed for relapses. Progression is not easily people with MS will lead to beneficial effects on
measured and usually happens over long pe- the immune system, gut bacterial composi on
riods of me, making it hard to quickly de- or other disease-related parameters.
tect whether a therapy is impac ng the
course of disease. This has made the devel- The Study: The team will iden fy and recruit 60
people with progressive MS who have abnormal
opment of therapies for progressive stages
bile acid metabolism. They will be given a bile
of MS a challenge. Diagnosing progressive acids supplement or a placebo for four months.
disease based on biomarkers, in addi on to The team will monitor blood samples and stool
clinical presenta on, would enable the specimens before, during and a er this inter-
tes ng of therapies earlier, promising be er ven on, and also look for the development of
ways of protec ng the nervous system from any new neurological symptoms during the trial.
MS injury. They will then analyze whether this treatment
* * * improved circula ng bile acid levels and altered
Pavan Bhargava, MD composi on of gut bacteria or immune func on.
Johns Hopkins University
Bal more, Maryland What’s Next: This study has the poten al to op-
Award: Research Grants mize a method to iden fy people with MS who
Category: Stopping MS have abnormali es in bile acid metabolism and
Term: 4/1/2018-3/31/2020 Funding: $355,455 a poten al treatment that would poten ally im-
Title: Bile acid supplementa on for Mul ple pact the composi on of gut bacteria, the periph-
Sclerosis eral immune system and have neuroprotec ve
Summary: Researchers are inves ga ng wheth- effects.
er a dietary supplement can be beneficial for
the immune system, gut bacteria and MS. Emily Evans, MD
Washington University School of Medicine
Background: People with MS may have abnor- St. Louis, Missouri
mali es in the way they process energy and oth- Award: Sylvia Lawry Physician Fellowship
er maintenance ac vi es (metabolism). One Category: Stopping MS
metabolic pathway iden fied by this team is bile Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2020 Funding: $130,000
acid metabolism. Bile acids are produced by the Title: Sylvia Lawry Clinical Trials Research Train-
liver and help in the absorp on of fats (lipids) in ing Fellowship
the gut, and can influence the composi on of Summary: A promising doctor will develop the
gut bacteria. Bile acids can also interact with im- skills involved in the design, implementa on,
and analysis of clinical trials in MS.
New Research Spring 2018 page 9Physicians Receive Training Awards for Specialized MS Care
The awards provide one year of post‐residency training with experienced mentors to optimize
access to quality care and solutions for people with MS.
Awardee Location Mentor
Brooke Guerrero, MD Cedars‐Sinai Medical Center Nancy Sicotte, MD
University of Kansas Medical
Amanda Thuringer, DO Center Sharon Lynch, MD
New York University School of
Asya Wallach, MD Medicine Ilya Kister, MD
University of Southern
Kelly Tisovic, MD California Lilyana Amezcua, MD
Douglas Juvinall, MD Northwestern University Roumen Balabanov, MD
University of Alabama at
Frank Benesh, MD, PhD Birmingham John Rinker, MD
The Study: To develop her clinical skills, Dr. Ev- ve inves gator in clinical trials at the MS Cen-
ans will spend me evalua ng pa ents in the ter. She will par cipate as an examining physi-
John L. Tro er Mul ple Sclerosis Center where cian in these trials and learn commonly u lized
she will see both new pa ents and follow-ups. clinical study measures. She will also pursue a
She will also spend me rota ng through the Master of Science in Clinical Inves ga on, a de-
pediatric MS clinic. These clinical experiences gree program geared towards helping young in-
will allow her to treat MS in all of its stages and ves gators prepare for academic research.
throughout the lifespan. She will also spend
me in the neuro-rehabilita on department to What’s Next: By the end of their training, Sylvia
develop a mul disciplinary approach to manag- Lawry fellows emerge fully ready to plan and
ing MS-related symptoms. To develop her clini- conduct studies of promising new treatments
cal inves ga on skills, Dr. Evans will be an ac- for mul ple sclerosis.
National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyProgression, cont. Christopher Langston, MD, PhD
Jenny Feng, MD Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Cleveland Clinic Founda on New York, New York
Cleveland, Ohio Award: Sylvia Lawry Physician Fellowship
Award: Sylvia Lawry Physician Fellowship Category: Stopping MS
Category: Stopping MS Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2020 Funding: $130,000
Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2021 Funding: $195,000 Title: Sylvia Lawry Physician Fellowship
Title: Training in mul ple sclerosis diagnosis, Summary: A promising doctor at Icahn School of
management, and clinical trials Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital will develop
Summary: A promising doctor will develop the the skills involved in the design, implementa-
skills involved in the design, implementa on, on, and analysis of clinical trials in MS.
and analysis of clinical trials in MS.
The Study: During this training, Dr. Langston will
The Study: Dr. Feng is comple ng a three-year help to create comprehensive treatment plans
training plan as a fellow in neuroimmunology at for people with MS. He will work with neuro-
the Mellen Center for MS at the Cleveland Clinic. radiologists who have access to state of the art
She will directly par cipate as a co-inves gator imaging technology to understand the signature
in mul ple clinical trials being conducted at the findings of the various subtypes of MS and to
Mellen Center, gaining first-hand experience in dis nguish MS from other condi ons. He will
designing, execu ng, and analyzing clinical trials, work with research coordinators to recruit peo-
as well as the intricate administra ve responsi- ple with MS for clinical trials, collect data, ana-
bili es involved in being a principal inves gator. lyze results, and generate novel conclusions that
At the same me, she will be enrolled in gradu- will improve MS care. Dr. Langston also will have
ate courses at Case Western University with the the opportunity to work in a basic science labor-
goal of obtaining a Masters’ degree in Clinical atory examining models that reflect specific as-
Research. She will also see pa ents in both out- pects of MS pathology to iden fy poten al tar-
pa ent and inpa ent se ngs to strengthen her gets for therapy in MS.
skills as a clinician in the diagnosis and manage-
ment of MS and related disorders. What’s Next: By the end of their training, Sylvia
Lawry fellows emerge fully ready to plan and
What’s Next: By the end of their training, Sylvia conduct studies of promising new treatments
Lawry fellows emerge fully ready to plan and for mul ple sclerosis.
conduct studies of promising new treatments
for mul ple sclerosis.
New Research Spring 2018 page 11Progression, cont. Michael Robers, MD
Muhammad Taimur Malik, MD University of Southern California
Johns Hopkins University Los Angeles, California
Bal more, Maryland Award: Sylvia Lawry Physician Fellowship
Award: Sylvia Lawry Physician Fellowship Category: Stopping MS
Category: Stopping MS Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2020 Funding: $130,000
Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2020 Funding: $130,000 Title: MS Fellowship
Title: MS Clinical Trials Fellowship Summary: A promising doctor at the University
Summary: A promising doctor at Johns Hopkins of Southern California, Los Angeles, will develop
University will develop the skills involved in the the skills involved in the conduct, design, imple-
design, implementa on, and analysis of clinical menta on, and analysis of large epidemiologi-
trials in MS. cal and clinical trials in MS.
The Study: Dr. Malik will be extensively involved The Study: This fellowship will include several
in clinical trials, including inves gator-ini ated half days per week in an MS clinic as well as
and industry-sponsored studies. He will also inpa ent consulta ons as needed. The clinical
learn the necessary skills needed to become an research aspects will include clinical trials as
academic neurologist specializing in the care of well as large scale epidemiologic studies. Dr.
people with MS. The Johns Hopkins MS Center Robers’s responsibili es on these trials will in-
inves gators have an established track record clude recruitment, measuring endpoints, safety
for conduc ng large-scale prospec ve and ret- monitoring, managing protocols and trouble-
rospec ve studies. Dr. Malik will have access to shoo ng issues as they arise. Dedicated course-
large MS datasets to perform clinical research work will result in a Master of Science degree in
projects. The Center also is equipped with Clinical, Biomedical, and Transla onal Inves ga-
fourth genera on state-of-the-art OCT (op cal ons which is a unique program designed to
coherence tomography) scanners, and Dr. Malik train professionals in the required sta s cs and
will use these to inves gate the rela onships founda ons of trial design to be successful in
between nerve ssue loss in the eye and MS dis- clinical research.
ease ac vity and progression. Dr. Malik also will
complete the Science of Clinical Inves ga on What’s Next: By the end of their training, Sylvia
Training Program at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Lawry fellows emerge fully ready to plan and
School of Public Health. conduct studies of promising new treatments
for mul ple sclerosis.
What’s Next: By the end of their training, Sylvia
Lawry fellows emerge fully ready to plan and
conduct studies of promising new treatments
for mul ple sclerosis.
National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyProgression, cont. Neuroprotec on/Repair: How do we
Margot Woodroofe, PhD repair the damage caused by MS?
Sheffield Hallam University
The hopes of people living with MS today
Sheffield, United Kingdom
Award: Research Grants
rest on finding a way to stop disease worsen-
Category: Stopping MS ing by preven ng neurodegenera on and re-
Term: 4/1/2018-3/31/2020 Funding: $134,514 versing the damage to restore lost func on.
Title: Lipidomics in progressive MS The brain can repair myelin and also rewire
Summary: Inves gators are mapping changes in itself around damaged areas, but in order to
the fa y composi on of the brain for clues to significantly impact disease, this natural abil-
finding ways to stop progressive MS. ity needs to be enhanced. In addi on to de-
veloping treatment strategies, there is a cru-
Background: All of the factors that drive MS cial need for non-invasive ways to determine
progression (gradual worsening of disability) are quickly whether neuroprotec ve and repair
not fully known. In both primary and secondary strategies are working.
progressive MS, the role of changes in brain * * *
composi on, and in par cular changes in fa y
Riley Bove, MD
substances (lipids), are poorly understood.
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California
The Study: Professor Woodroofe and team will
Award: Research Grants
iden fy regional differences and specific chang-
Category: Restoring what's been lost
es in lipid composi on of the normal, apparent-
Term: 4/1/2018-3/31/2021 Funding: $578,719
ly unaffected white ma er part of the brain in
Title: Func onal valida on of SERMs as remye-
people with primary and secondary progressive
lina ng agents
MS, compared to control samples, using post
Summary: Researchers are determining the po-
mortem ssue from the MS Tissue Bank, Imperi-
ten al of SERMs (selec ve estrogen receptor
al College London, UK. The unique lipid species
modulators) medica ons for s mula ng repair
iden fied will be mapped across the ssue sec-
of nerve-insula ng myelin.
ons using a mass spectrometry imaging tech-
nique that allows iden fica on of regional varia-
Background: MS destroys the myelin casing on
ons in the lipids in progressive MS.
nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. This
leaves them vulnerable to damage, and causes a
What’s Next: This research will provide under-
variety of symptoms. Treatments that promote
standing of lipid changes during the course of
myelin repair represent a major unmet need for
MS and possible new treatment strategies –
people living with MS.
possibly even dietary changes.
The Study: Dr. Bove and colleagues are focusing
on the poten al of a category of medica ons
called SERMs (selec ve estrogen receptor mod-
ulators). SERMs have been developed to treat a
number of medical problems, such as osteopo-
New Research Spring 2018 page 1328 New High-Risk Pilot Projects Take Aim at MS
One way the Society propels MS research is by funding high‐risk, high‐potential pilot projects to in‐
vestigate untested ideas. These one‐year grants allow researchers to quickly gather data to deter‐
mine if ideas are worth pursuing.
STOPPING MS
Tanuja Chitnis, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA) is evaluating what proportion of
children with MS experience a severe course of the disease.
Marc Horwitz, PhD (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) is testing
whether Epstein‐Barr Virus speci ically acts as an important factor in developing MS.
Yong Chan Kim, PhD (Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD) is developing an innovative ther‐
apeutic strategy to treat an MS‐like disease.
Pawan Kumar, PhD (State University of New York at Stony Brook) is testing a therapeutic approach
using molecules that regulate gut bacteria to reduce severity of MS‐like disease.
Sharon Lynch, MD (University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS) is studying older people
with MS and without MS and comparing measurements of disability.
Yungki Park, PhD (The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY) is focusing on how genet‐
ic variations may contribute to MS risk, using cutting‐edge technology.
Miguel Paz Soldan, MD, PhD (Western Institute for Biomedical Research (WIBR), Salt Lake City, UT)
is studying whether differences in brain/spinal cord cells contribute to MS progression.
Bart Rypma, PhD (The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX) is using neuroimaging methods to
determine mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in MS.
Nancy Sicotte, MD (Cedars‐Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles) is investigating what factors contribute
to the development of MS‐like disease after administration of TNF‐alpha blockers.
Mary Stevenson, PhD (McGill University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is investigating the effectiveness
of proteins derived from parasitic worms as therapy for mice with MS‐like disease.
Carles Vilarino‐Guell, PhD (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) is
developing and testing a new lab model of MS‐like disease.
Li Wen, MD, PhD (Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT) is identifying which gut bacte‐
ria can stimulate the immune system and possibly promote the development of MS.
Junqian Xu, PhD (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY) is optimizing tools to pre‐
pare for the investigation of the effects of rehabilitation in MS.
Yuhong Yang, MD (The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH) is targeting a novel pathway for stop‐
ping the immune attack in MS.
National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyRESTORING WHAT’S BEEN LOST
Brett Fling, PhD (Colorado State University, Fort Collins) is testing how changes in communication
between the two sides of the brain contribute to differences in the lower limbs in MS.
Nader Ghasemlou, PhD (Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada) is identifying new therapeu‐
tic targets that can be used to block or reduce pain in those living with MS.
Jacob Hines, PhD (Winona State University, Winona, MN) is learning what properties of the nerve i‐
ber enable successful formation of myelin sheaths.
Sherri LaVela, PhD, MPH (CARES ‐ Chicago Association for Research and Education in Science) is
evaluating whether a novel therapy strengthens the ankle and muscles in MS.
Victoria Leavitt, PhD (Columbia University, New York, NY) is testing an online format to deliver the
bene its of support groups to people with MS.
Steven LeVine, PhD (University of Kansas Medical Center ‐ Kansas City) is investigating whether
high dose biotin therapy might promote myelin repair processes in people with MS.
PILOT SPOTLIGHT: Neuros mula on to Improve Mobility
Weakness on one side of the body is a hallmark of MS, and is a significant cause of progressive worsening of
walking abili es. Transient direct current s mula on (tDCS, a form of neuros mula on that uses constant, low
direct current delivered via electrodes on the head) has been consistently shown to enhance motor perfor-
mance in stroke pa ents and others. Thorsten Rudroff, PhD, and colleagues at Colorado State University, Fort
Collins are seeking to determine whether applying tDCS will increase walking distance in 30 people with MS.
The use of tDCS as a supplementary applica on in addi on to rehabilita ve exercise training may help to im-
prove muscle weakness, bilateral asymmetries and mobility impairments in people with MS.
Jeri‐Anne Lyons, PhD (University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee) is conducting clinical trial to determine
the effectiveness of a form of light therapy to treat muscle fatigue in people with MS.
Bardia Nourbakhsh, MD (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD) is performing a clinical trial to
ind out if ketamine can alleviate the severity of fatigue in people with MS.
Catherine Siengsukon, PhD (University of Kansas Medical Center ‐ Kansas City, KS) is assessing the
feasibility of using cognitive behavioral therapy to improve MS symptoms of reduced sleep quality
and fatigue in individuals with MS who have insomnia.
Fraser Sim, PhD (The State University of New York at Buffalo) is establishing a new lab model of de‐
myelination to determine whether human cell therapy can restore lost myelin.
Caila Vaughn, PhD, MPH (The State University of New York at Buffalo) is conducting a trial to deter‐
mine whether an application for smart devices improves communication in MS.
Brooks Wingo, PhD (University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL) is testing a web‐based lifestyle inter‐
vention in people with MS that includes both diet and exercise components.
Ann Yeh, MD (The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is investigating how sleep
habits, physical activity, and MS symptoms are related in children with MS.
New Research Spring 2018 page 15Neuroprotec on/Repair, cont. from p. 13 drocytes) is how they interact with immune cells
rosis and breast cancer. There have also been and how these interac ons influence the im-
sugges ons that SERMs may promote the repair mune response and oligodendrocyte func on
of myelin, which is damaged by MS. Dr. Bove’s and survival.
team will look at the myelin repair poten al of
SERMs in human cells as well as rodent models, The Study: This project focuses on defining the
tes ng a variety of them to find those with the interac ons between early oligodendrocytes
best overall benefit:risk profiles. The team will and T cells, immune cells that drive MS. Dr. Har-
also determine whether SERMs promote remye- rington’s team is isola ng T cells from mice that
lina on by working on estrogen receptors are s mulated to form an inflammatory re-
(docking sites), or on other targets in cells. sponse to myelin proteins and transferring them
into mice that have gene cally labelled oli-
What’s Next: The ability to promote myelin re- godendrocyte precursors. A er myelin has been
pair represents one of the central priori es for damaged, the team will observe the interac on
people with MS. By the end of the study, they between T cells and oligodendrocyte progeni-
should have a clear understanding of which tors in the brain using imaging. They will then
SERMs are the best candidates to test for pro- determine how that interac on influences the
mo ng myelin repair in people with MS. inflammatory response and the loss of oligoden-
drocyte progenitors. Inhibitors of this interac-
Emily Harrington, MD, PhD on will be assessed for their ability to block oli-
Johns Hopkins University godendrocyte progenitor loss and promote mye-
Bal more, Maryland lin repair.
Award: NMSS-ABF Clinician Scien st
Development Award What’s Next: Results from this study may help
Category: Stopping MS guide the development of therapies for MS that
Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2021 Funding: $276,697 promote oligodendrocyte progenitor survival
Title: The role of oligodendrocyte progenitors as and promote myelin repair.
immune cells in MS models
Summary: Johns Hopkins researchers are ob- Yang Hu, MD, PhD
serving interac ons between the immune sys- Stanford University
tem and myelin making cells for clues to stop- Stanford, California
ping myelin loss and promo ng myelin repair. Award: Research Grants
Category: Stopping MS
Background: The majority of the therapies that Term: 4/1/2018-3/31/2021 Funding: $467,623
are used to treat mul ple sclerosis work Title: Combined Neuronal Soma and Axon Pro-
through mechanisms of suppressing the im- tec on by Manipula on of Both ER Stress and
mune system. Oligodendrocytes are the cells in NAD+ Metabolism in EAE/Op c Neuri s
the brain and spinal cord that wrap nerve fibers Summary: Researchers at Stanford University
with myelin sheaths that allow for rapid conduc- are using a strategy of combina on therapy in a
on of signals. A largely unexplored role of oli- mouse model of MS to protect the nervous sys-
godendrocyte precursors (immature oligoden- tem from a type of damage that occurs in MS.
National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyNeuroprotec on/Repair, cont. Background: In MS, the immune system a acks
Background: Neurodegenera on is common in and destroys myelin, the fa y substance that
MS and includes damage and loss of nervous surrounds and protects nerve fibers. Nerve fi-
system ssues. Nerve cells, which transmit sig- bers that have lost their myelin do not func on
nals, are lost in the process of neurodegenera- properly and are vulnerable to damage, causing
on. They contain two important parts, a cell symptoms in people with MS. The brain is only
body, and a wire-like axon. Therapies aimed at able to par ally repair myelin, and therapies to
protec ng both parts of the nerve cell may work enhance this repair are needed.
best.
The Study: Oligodendrocyte precursors (OPCs)
The Study: The visual system and its nerve cells are a group of immature glial cells that can ma-
are affected in both MS and a mouse model of ture into myelin-making oligodendrocytes. Dr.
MS called EAE, causing vision problems. Dr. Hu Mironova and her team are tes ng the idea that
and his team are using mice with EAE and are OPCs have other func ons that may be im-
tes ng a combina on of two treatment strate- portant in myelin repair. Specifically, they are
gies: one is aimed at protec ng the cell body tes ng whether OPCs play a role in the removal
from damage and one is aimed at protec ng the of myelin debris and if this clearance is used to
axon of nerve cells. The team is monitoring the regulate immune cells in the brain. They are
back of the eye, called the re na, to detect the studying these ques ons in mice with myelin
impact of these treatment strategies. damage. The team can label different cell popu-
la ons such as OPCs and mature myelin-making
What’s Next: Combina on strategies aimed at cells, allowing them to see the cells in ac on and
protec ng the nervous system and preven ng the roles they play in the myelin repair process.
neurodegenera on may eventually be devel-
oped to treat people with MS to stop MS pro- What’s Next: These studies may lead to novel
gression and preserve func ons. approaches to facilita ng myelin repair to pro-
tect nerve fibers and restore func on in people
Yevgeniya Mironova, PhD with MS.
Johns Hopkins University
Bal more, Maryland Hiroko Nobuta, PhD
Award: Postdoctoral Fellowships Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Category: Restoring what's been lost Bronx, New York
Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2021 Funding: $181,754 Award: Career Transi on Fellowship
Title: Non-progenitor func ons of oligodendro- Category: Restoring what's been lost
cyte precursor cells in the brain Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2023 Funding: $562,908
Summary: Researchers at Johns Hopkins Univer- Title: Development of a Human Compa ble
sity are studying how oligodendrocyte precursor Pla orm to Study Oligodendrocyte Biology
cells in the adult brain play mul ple roles in re- Summary: Researchers are op mizing ways of
pair of myelin damage. producing human myelin-making cells to speed
efforts to find strategies to repair nerve-
insula ng myelin and restore func on in MS.
New Research Spring 2018 page 17Neuroprotec on/Repair, cont. Summary: Stanford University researchers are
Background: One of the unsolved problems in inves ga ng mechanisms involved in the loss of
MS treatment is to repair the nerve-insula ng cells that make nerve-insula ng myelin, and po-
myelin that is damaged in hopes of protec ng ten al ways to promote their survival and mye-
nerves and restoring func on. Some natural re- lin repair.
pair occurs in MS, but there is a need to find
ways to s mulate myelin-making cells Background: An important unmet need in MS is
(oligodendrocytes) to conduct more reliable re- finding a way to repair the myelin coa ng on
pair. Much of what is known about myelin re- nerve fibers damaged as a result of immune sys-
pair has involved rodents, rather than people. tem assaults of the brain and spinal cord. Nerve
To gain more ground, there is a need for ways fibers stripped of their myelin are vulnerable to
to iden fy promising myelin repair strategies loss. Repairing myelin may protect from nerve
that more readily translate to trea ng people. loss and restore nerve signaling to improve
func onal abili es. The cells that repair myelin
The Study: Dr. Nobuta aims to develop methods in the central nervous system are called oli-
to study human oligodendrocytes by cul va ng godendrocytes. They reside in the brain in im-
human cells and using them to test drugs or cell mature states, and they are called up when inju-
therapies that will promote myelin repair. Her ry occurs, when they begin to mature and move
team is establishing culture condi ons that al- to the areas of damage and start the myelin re-
lows the observa on of genes, mechanisms, and genera on process.
signals that facilitate myelin repair. The team
will establish and share with other inves gators The Study: Dr. Sun and team have iden fied a
a database of informa on to speed progress. natural molecule in the brain that is ac ve dur-
Ul mately the findings will be used to generate ing early development to help determine when
transplantable human oligodendrocytes for fu- and where myelin grows. This molecule, called
ture therapies. TFEB, inhibits the survival of immature oligoden-
drocytes so that myelin develops in the proper
What’s Next: Having and sharing rich infor- amounts and places. In this project, Dr. Sun is
ma on about human myelin-making cells and conduc ng lab studies to understand signals
op mal condi ons for their growth and trans- that influence TFEB, with the goal of determin-
planta on will speed efforts to restore func on ing whether therapies that block TFEB would be
in people with MS. a promising strategy for protec ng oligodendro-
cytes from loss and promo ng repair in MS.
Lu Sun, PhD
Stanford University What’s Next: This study will provide important
Stanford, California fundamental informa on about amechanisms
Award: Career Transi on Fellowship involved in myelin loss and poten al ways to
Category: Restoring what's been lost promote its repair to restore func on in people
Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2023 Funding: $589,886 with MS.
Title: Iden fica on of a novel pathway that reg-
ulates CNS myelina on and remyelina on
National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyNeuroprotec on/Repair, cont. J. Bradley Zuchero, PhD
William Talbot, PhD Stanford University
Stanford University Stanford, California
Stanford, California Award: Harry Weaver Neuroscience
Award: Research Grants Category: Restoring what's been lost
Category: Restoring what's been lost Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2023 Funding: $772,639
Term: 4/1/2018-3/31/2021 Funding: $436,224 Title: How does the ac n cytoskeleton control
Title: Role of RagA in Lysosome Func on and myelina on and remyelina on?
Myelina on in Oligodendrocytes Summary: Stanford University researchers are
Summary: Researchers at Stanford University inves ga ng how scaffold-like structures inside
are inves ga ng two genes that affect the cells change during the forma on of myelin, for
growth of nerve-insula ng myelin, for clues to clues to s mula ng myelin repair in MS.
finding ways to repair myelin in people with MS.
Background: One hallmark of MS is the destruc-
Background: In MS, the immune system a acks on of the myelin sheath, the insula ng layer
and destroys myelin, the fa y substance that that surrounds wire-like axons throughout the
surrounds and protects nerve fibers. Nerve fi- brain and spinal cord. Myelin is formed by oli-
bers that have lost their myelin do not func on godendrocytes, cells that extend long processes
properly and are vulnerable to damage, leading that wrap around axons. In chronic MS lesions
to symptoms in people with the disease. Myelin that fail to regenerate myelin, oligodendrocytes
repair improves func on, however, natural my- are present and even can extend their processes
elin repair is incomplete in MS, and therapies toward axons but the step in which they wrap
are needed to enhance myelin repair in MS. around axons to form mature myelin is blocked,
for unknown reasons. Dr. Zuchero aims to deter-
The Study: Dr. Talbot’s team is inves ga ng the mine why oligodendrocytes may not wrap
role of a part of the cell called the lysosome. Ly- around axons in people with MS. Specifically, his
sosomes are responsible for the breakdown and team is inves ga ng the role of structural
recycling of cellular debris, which may be im- scaffolding, called the cytoskeleton, which exists
portant for proper myelin repair. They are inves- inside oligodendrocytes.
ga ng genes that control how lysosomes work
in myelin-making cells using zebrafish as their The Study: First, the team is studying myelin
experimental model. The larvae are transparent, wrapping as it occurs normally in lab dishes and
allowing the team to see changes in myelin. in a mouse model. Next, they are studying mye-
They have discovered two genes in these fish lin wrapping during the myelin repair process in
that affect lysosomes and myelin synthesis, and mouse models of MS. Finally, they will use novel
have obtained evidence that these genes may tools developed in Dr. Zuchero’s laboratory to
not func on correctly in people with MS. s mulate or block the disassembly of the cyto-
skeleton to determine the impacts on repair.
What’s Next: Understanding the func on of
genes that affect myelin synthesis will provide What’s Next: This project may uncover novel
clues to improving myelin repair in MS. insights into why myelin repair fails in MS.
New Research Spring 2018 page 19Symptoms, Rehab, Wellness: How do an individual level are needed. Dr. Block and col-
we reverse symptoms and promote leagues are using a non-invasive, con nuous
measure of daily physical ac vity to determine a
wellness? person’s average daily step count (STEPS) in
Emerging evidence suggests that wellness conjunc on with sophis cated MRI measures to
behaviors and lifestyle factors can influence define more sensi ve measures of MS disability.
the risk for developing MS, disease course,
severity of symptoms and quality of life. The Study: The team is using the wearable Fitbit
Finding ways to understand and address the device to capture STEPS data for one year and
variable and unpredictable symptoms caused at least two follow-up MRI measures for 50 peo-
ple with MS. They are determining whether a
by MS will have a profound impact on peo-
strong associa on exists between STEPS and ad-
ple’s quality of life. In addi on, people with
vanced MRI measures. They are also evalua ng
MS o en live with other chronic medical whether they can predict changes in disease
condi ons. Understanding how these other progression in MRI scans, clinic-based out-
health condi ons affect MS disease course comes, or change of medica on. They are also
and symptoms represents an important re- evalua ng differences between people with re-
search opportunity. Opportuni es to im- lapsing and progressive MS, men and women,
prove the design and conduct of clinical trials and people with different dura ons of disease.
and providing strategies people can incorpo-
rate to enhance their wellbeing are a priori- What’s Next: Results from this project could im-
ty. prove detec on of MS progression and enhance
* * * clinical trials.
Valerie Block, DSc, PT
Nina Bozinov, MD
University of California, San Francisco
Stanford University
San Francisco, California
Stanford, California
Award: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Award: Sylvia Lawry Physician Fellowship
Category: Stopping MS
Category: Restoring what's been lost
Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2021 Funding: $177,243
Term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2020 Funding: $130,000
Title: Incorpora ng Con nuous Daily Assess-
Title: Imaging and immunopathologic bi-
ment of Remote Step Count Monitoring with
omarkers of cogni ve impairment in MS
Quan ta ve Spinal Cord and Brain MRI
Summary: A promising doctor will develop the
Summary: Researchers are determining wheth-
skills involved in the design, implementa on,
er a person’s average daily step count can be
and analysis of clinical trials in MS.
used to measure and track progression of MS.
The Study: Throughout this fellowship, about
Background: Walking is a major form of physical
40% of Dr. Bozinov’s me will be spent in the
ac vity for people with MS, and walking impair-
MS/Neuroimmunology Clinic. She will provide
ment is one of the most limi ng aspects of the
direct pa ent care including diagnosis, ini a on
disease. Reliable, valid measures of walking im-
and op miza on of disease modifying thera-
pairment that reflect real-world daily ac vity on
pies, safety monitoring, symptoma c manage
National Multiple Sclerosis SocietySymptoms, Rehab, Wellness, cont.
ment and counseling. Dr. Bozinov will par ci-
pate in clinical trials of various phases and
types. Her role will involve pa ent screening, How can people become
safety monitoring, and outcome measures. Fi-
nally, Dr. Bozinov is enrolling in the Master of self‐motivated to engage
Science Program in Epidemiology & Clinical Re-
search to receive training in clinical research.
in physical activity in a
What’s Next: By the end of their training, Sylvia
Lawry fellows emerge fully ready to plan and way that sustained
conduct studies of promising new treatments
for mul ple sclerosis. lifestyle changes occur?
Chung‐Yi Chiu, PhD
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Springfield, Illinois
Award: Research Grants
Category: Restoring what's been lost style changes occur. They will test the program
Term: 4/1/2018-3/31/2021 Funding: $548,359 in a controlled trial to see whether the treat-
Title: Developing A Person-centered Internet- ment was effec ve and capable of inspiring
based Health Ac on Process Approach to Pro- las ng changes that increase individuals’ ac vity
mo ng Physical Ac vity in People with MS levels.
Summary: Researchers are tes ng a program
aimed at increasing physical ac vity among peo- What’s Next: Findings will generate an effec ve
ple with MS to promote healthier lifestyles. online interven on that promotes a physically
ac ve lifestyle among people with MS. A physi-
Background: There is a strong tendency for peo- cally ac ve lifestyle is important to control MS
ple with MS to decrease their physical ac vity and to help manage individuals’ overall health.
over me, leading to sedentary lifestyles that
worsen secondary health condi ons like cardio- Dawn Ehde, PhD
vascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. The goal University of Washington
of this project is to increase physical ac vity in Sea le, Washington
people with MS. Award: Research Grants
Category: Restoring what's been lost
The Study: Dr. Chiu’s team is consul ng with an Term: 4/1/2018-3/31/2022 Funding: $879,991
advisory board of people living with MS to de- Title: Mindfulness based Cogni ve Therapy and
velop an online, 8-week interven on to a empt Cogni ve Behavioral Therapy for Pain in MS
to increase physical ac vity. This interven on Summary: Researchers are conduc ng a clinical
centers on how people become self-mo vated trial tes ng two non-pharmacological approach-
to engage in ac vity in a way that sustained life- es to managing pain in people with MS.
New Research Spring 2018 page 21You can also read
