FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ground-Breaking
Study May Determine the Cause of Multiple Sclerosis
Researchers
look at Canadian children to uncover the triggers of MS
TORONTO (May 4, 2004) – A
ground-breaking study announced today may identify the key
triggers which cause multiple sclerosis (MS). This global-first,
$4.3-million study of MS in children will provide unique
insights into the disease that affects an estimated 50,000
Canadians. The MS Scientific Research Foundation and the
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada announced funding today
for this cross-Canada research project. This is the first
of several activities in May, MS Awareness Month.
This
study will attempt to answer two important questions: what is
the cause of MS and what is the risk of developing MS after
one attack.
“The
risk of developing MS after an initial attack of the immune
system on the brain or spinal cord is currently unknown. We
do not know the key triggers of the MS disease process, nor
do we know how these triggers interact with an individual’s
immune system,” said Dr. Brenda Banwell, lead study investigator
and director of the Hospital for Sick Children’s Paediatric
MS Clinic in Toronto. “My colleagues and I are extremely
hopeful this work will help us understand the disease at its
onset, benefiting both children and adults with MS.”
This
five-year project, taking place in 22 Canadian hospitals, will
study children who have experienced an initial attack, known
as clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Some, but not all of
these children will go on to develop MS. Researchers will follow
these children closely in order to determine features associated
with risk of a second (MS-defining) attack. Studying children
from the time of the first attack allows researchers to explore
the biological factors involved in the very beginning of the
MS disease process. Researchers hope that these studies will
identify the factors involved in the development of MS.
“When
my son Scott was diagnosed with MS at eight years old, my husband
and I were scared and overwhelmed. No one could tell us why
he got the disease or how it would affect him as he grew older,”
said Kelly Kalbfleisch, whose son is now 16 years old. “I’m
happy to know this study may answer those questions and help
other families affected by the disease.”
“This
is a very significant study for all those touched by the disease.
The Foundation is proud to fund this ground-breaking research
project,” said Alexander R. Aird, chair of the MS Scientific
Research Foundation and former chair of the MS Society of Canada.
Funding
for this unique study and many other MS projects is made possible
through MS Society of Canada fund raising activities like the
MS Carnation Campaign currently underway and the upcoming RONA
MS Bike Tours. The MS Society is a leader in providing funding
for innovative research and vital services for people with MS
and their families. The MS Scientific Research Foundation receives
almost all of its funding from the MS Society of Canada.
MS is an unpredictable and often disabling disease of the brain
and spinal cord. MS can occur at any age. It is usually diagnosed
between the ages of 15 and 40, when people are finishing school,
building careers and establishing families. It has been diagnosed
in children as young as three. With an estimated 50,000 people
living with the disease and three more diagnosed each day, Canada
has one of the highest rates of MS in the world.
Paediatric
Study Summary
This
study, following children with CIS for five years, will have
clinical applicability to children and adults with the disease.
There
are three key components of the study:
-
Determining
what MS looks like in a child
Researchers will determine if a particular combination of
symptoms in a child with CIS is more likely to lead to MS.
This will help to determine whether a child is at high risk
of developing MS and whether treatment with available drug
therapies should begin.
-
Determining
what causes MS
The study will look closely at the immune system of children
with CIS. Researchers will attempt to find out if there
is something unique about the structure or composition of
brain and spinal cord white matter that somehow “sets
off”
the immune system attack.
-
Determining
the appearance of MS in a child’s brain
The study will enable researchers to study children with
CIS, look closely at possible patterns of damage in the brain
and spinal cord, and determine if certain patterns can predict
who will go on to develop MS.
About
the MS Society of Canada and MS Scientific Research Foundation
The
MS Society of Canada and the MS Scientific Research Foundation
are the largest funders of MS research in Canada. The MS Society
raises funds to support research and services almost entirely
through individual and corporate donations and fund raising
events across the country.
May
is MS Awareness Month. In May, MS Society chapters and volunteers
in communities across the country will be raising awareness
about the disease and raising funds for ongoing research and
services.
Founded
in 1948, the MS Society has a membership of 28,000, with seven
regional divisions and nearly 120 chapters. Besides funding
MS research, the MS Society also provides services for people
with MS, family members and caregivers. The MS Society also
offers a unique support network
for children and teenagers with MS and their parents.
The
MS Scientific Research Foundation was established in 1973.
It supports large cooperative multi-disciplinary research
projects that are beyond the scope of the MS Society’s
regular granting program.
To
speak with a research investigator or patient in your area or
to find out more information about the MS Society, please contact:
Cindy
DesGrosseilliers
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Phone: 416-967-3015
E-mail: cindy.desgrosseilliers@mssociety.ca
Sarah
Rutka
Fleishman-Hillard Canada
Phone: 416-645-8191
E-mail: rutkas@fleishman.com  |
