High-Impact Research to Change Lives

High-Impact Research to Change Lives

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Participants should leave energized by progress occurring in MS research, and should be able to inspire others by explaining in simple terms several promising areas of research and the Society’s role in driving progress

Stop, Restore, End – For Everyone with MS• Finding Solutions for people with MS is Our Highest

Priority -- Research is essential to changing lives• We’ve invested nearly $870 million in research since

1947, contributing to many of the FDA-approved therapies

• We’re fueling research through increased investment – 2014: $50.6 million for 380 new/ongoing projects – 2015: $51+ million

• We now lead the way, funding more research and impacting more lives than any other MS organization in the world

EnvironmentalTrigger

Autoimmunity

GeneticPredisposition

What Causes MS?

Loss of myelin & nerve fibers

MS Interrupts the Flow of Information Between the Brain and the Body

Functional nerve cell

Nerve cell with MS damage

Stop, Restore, End• STOP -- Understand immune activity, progression,

accelerate new therapies, discover how myelin and nerve cells are damaged and how to protect them

• RESTORE -- Myelin repair, rehab, exercise, symptomatic therapies

• END -- Identify risk and triggering factors, such as genes and lifestyle factors, for prevention

– Follow all promising paths, with three priority areas: Progressive MS, Nervous System Repair, Wellness/Lifestyle

Multiyear Awards by Research Goals

STOP

$79M

END $9M

199147

19

RE-STORE$50M

380 active projects

Research Strategies• Comprehensive and Collaborative

– Pursue all promising paths, wherever they exist– Expand/strengthen MS research globally– Remain nimble to seize promising new

opportunities• Investigator-initiated and targeted• Centralized peer review, funding and stewardship• Fund worldwide – no boundaries

Research Strategies (cont.)• Basic and translational investigations• Foster collaboration, interdisciplinary approaches• Support shared resources (ie tissue and DNA banks) • Training awards to attract and keep scientists and

physicians focusing on MS• Commercial drug development partnerships

to speed therapies• Think tanks and workshops to identify gaps and

opportunities, e.g. this week’s Wellness Strategy Mtg.

Driving Solutions

1993 Betaseron

2013 Skin stem cells myelinate mouse brain – human trials planned

1996 Research shows exercise helps MS

1981 First MRI scans revolutionize diagnosis

2010 First oral MS therapy

2002 Demonstrated benefit of sex hormone estriol leads to large trial

1996-2014 Ten more approved therapies

1989 Natural myelin repair demonstrated

1992 First research on exercise in MS

1965 Society convenes panel to improve MS diagnosis

2004 Link: vitamin D intake and MS risk

2009 New evidence that early treatment delays progression

1947 1965 1980 1995 2010 2014

$7M

$868M cumulative research investment

1980 1st int’l conference on trials creates path for MS therapies

1998 Targeted initiative into gender differences in MS

$49M

$186

M

$686

M

2010 First drug to improve walking

2005 Nervous System Protection & Repair Initiative jumpstarts field

2012 Progressive MS Alliance launched

2003 Smoking reported as a modifiable risk factor for MS

2007 Society convenes Stem Cell Summit