More MS news articles for March 2001

Chapter's MS WALK To Fuel Increased Efforts In Unlocking The Mysteries Of MS During Nationwide Research Support Initiative

Dateline: March 29, 2001

Now more than ever your participation as a walker, volunteer or sponsor is needed at the National MS Society’s MS WALK on Sunday, April 22, 29 and May 6. In addition to its annual commitment to area and national programs and research, the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter of the National MS Society has volunteered to raise an additional $1 million over the next several years. Participants at 21 MS WALK sites throughout the region will help support the nationwide Research Support Initiative, a series of programs targeted at research areas that need attention. These projects have the potential to drastically change our current understanding and treatment of the disease and provide hope to over 8,400 area residents with MS.

Four of the targeted research areas the MS WALK will support through the Research Initiative include:

Initiative On Genetics Of MS:

Many genes contribute to determining a person’s susceptibility to developing MS. Identifying these genes and understanding how they contribute to the disease process will provide clues to the cause of MS, and perhaps ways to prevent or treat it.

Initiative On Gender And MS:

We know that many more women than men have MS, and that MS usually goes into remission during the third trimester of pregnancy. We must begin to find out why, because there may be drugs on the market, even now, which could be used to treat MS.

Longitudinal MS Study:

This project will monitor a cross-section of people with MS throughout the country over an extended period of time. Similar to the famous Framingham Heart Study, this project may be able to answer questions about whether there are factors that predict the long-term prognosis for a person’s MS.

The MS Lesion Project:

International teams of researchers are examining MS lesions in the brain to determine if there is any correlation between the type of damage seen in the brain tissue and the symptoms of the disease. Ultimately, we may learn why drugs work for some people and not for others.

None of these projects would be possible without the support of the community and the thousands of donors who participate or volunteer during the MS WALK and other events. For more information about the upcoming MS WALK, please click here or call 800-883-WALK.