Dr Laura Bell from the MS Society said: "These are exciting times for MS
research. Ten years ago there were no drugs to treat MS, but today there are a
range of therapies available and a dozen more in late stage clinical trials.
We're putting millions into MS research and very much hope that the new avenues
we are exploring - including stem cells - will bring about major advances in the
next ten years."
The MS Society is funding the MS Society Edinburgh
University Centre for Translational Research, which Prof ffrench-Constant heads
up, to the tune of more than GBP2 million over the next five years.
'Translational' research means helping basic (laboratory) scientists and
clinicians to work closely together to speed up the development of new
treatments.
This week (21 to 27 April) is MS awareness week.
--
Multiple sclerosis is the most common disabling neurological disorder affecting
young adults and an estimated 85,000 people in the UK have MS.
-- MS is
the result of damage to myelin - the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres
of the central nervous system - which interferes with messages between the brain
and the body.
-- For some people, MS is characterised by periods of
relapse and remission while for others it has a progressive pattern.
--
Symptoms range from loss of sight and mobility, fatigue, depression and
cognitive problems. There is no cure and few effective treatments.
The MS Society is the UK's largest charity dedicated to
supporting everyone whose life is touched by MS, providing respite care, an
award-winning freephone helpline (+44(0)808-800-8000), specialist MS nurses and
funds around 40 vital MS research projects in the UK.
The MS Society
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