Latest MS Research News

A team of world-renowned researchers selected to establish the CANadian PROactive COhort Study for People Living with MS (CanProCo)

December 6, 2018

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Summary The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, along with partners Brain Canada, are excited to announce that a team of world-renowned researchers in multiple sclerosis (MS) were selected to begin work on the CANadian PROactive COhort Study for People Living with MS (CanProCo). Biogen is also a founding... Read More

MS Society of Canada launches vitamin D recommendations for MS

November 14, 2018

• MS Society Funded

Summary The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada has launched evidence-based recommendations on vitamin D supplementation that can help people affected by MS make informed decisions about their health. These recommendations will provide information for at-risk populations and people diagnosed with MS... Read More

MS Society of Canada announces $5 million support for a clinical trial on improving cognition in progressive MS

September 12, 2018

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Summary The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada announced a $5 million, multicenter, international clinical trial to investigate if cognitive rehabilitation and aerobic exercise can improve cognition in people with progressive MS. The study has the potential to provide a treatment option for people... Read More

MS Society of Canada funded study reveals a new mechanism that prevents the death of brain cells in MS

August 1, 2018

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background : Mechanisms leading to brain damage in MS are not fully understood One hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS) is the loss of myelin , the protective covering on the nerve fibers, found in the brain and spinal cord, collectively called the central nervous system (CNS). The loss of myelin leads... Read More

MS Society funded study explores the effects of cannabis on cognition in men and women with MS

October 4, 2017

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: Nearly 20% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) use cannabis (also known as marijuana) to help them manage symptoms such as pain. In MS, men experience greater cognitive dysfunction than women. Recent research has discovered that cannabis contributes to cognitive dysfunction, however... Read More

MS Society of Canada continues collaboration with the Centre for Drug Research and Development as new translational project on progressive MS is launched

June 2, 2017

• MS Society Funded

The MS Society of Canada and Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD) are excited to collaborate again to support a translational research project that could lead to the development of disease-modifying therapies for people living with progressive MS. Following a peer review process by experts... Read More

MS Scientific Research Foundation funded study finds oral antibiotic, Minocycline, reduces risk of converting to MS

May 31, 2017

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS ) is a single episode of neurological symptoms suggestive of multiple sclerosis. Individuals affected by CIS have a high chance of developing MS after CIS and it is unclear why some people develop MS and others do not. Many research studies are working hard... Read More

MS Society funds new translational research project for progressive forms of MS

May 11, 2017

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

May 11, 2017- Toronto, ON- Three important steps are required when taking an idea from the research laboratory into a viable treatment. The first step is the discovery phase (also known as basic science) where researchers aim to identify new targets, such as a protein, that may be contributing to a... Read More

MS Society-funded researchers explore potential of an antioxidant compound to limit disease progression in mice with MS-like disease

April 18, 2017

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: Inflammation and neurodegeneration are two characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS). These responses cause damage to the nerve cells in the brain, preventing the cells from communicating with one another and leading to the varying symptoms seen in individuals with MS. One process that... Read More

Preliminary Analyses of Pan-Canadian Interventional Clinical Trial for CCSVI in Multiple Sclerosis Completed

March 8, 2017

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Preliminary, unpublished results from a placebo-controlled, double-blind phase I/II pan-Canadian CCSVI clinical trial were presented at the Society for Interventional Radiology annual scientific meeting in Washington, D.C. on March 8th, 2017. Jointly funded by the MS Society of Canada and... Read More

MS Society funds three new wellness studies that seek to provide more options for accessing physical activity for people living with MS

November 9, 2016

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Physical activity is an important priority for people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). In 2015, the MS Society of Canada posted the MS Wellness Survey , an online questionnaire designed to capture the voices of people living with MS about how they view wellness, what they do to achieve optimal wellness, Read More

Promoting myelin maintenance and repair with novel therapy is explored in MS Society-funded study

August 17, 2016

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background In people living with multiple sclerosis, the lesions in the brain that result from damage to myelin can arise from different processes. The “outside-in” process reflects the attack of myelin from inflammation-producing cells that enter the central nervous system from outside and cause damage. Read More

Researchers pin down molecule that permits the entry of harmful immune cells into the spinal cord in MS-like disease

June 30, 2016

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background One of the ways that researchers gain important insights into a complex disease like multiple sclerosis (MS) is by studying how different molecules interact in order to trigger and drive the disease. Certain molecules can play multiple, sometimes conflicting roles in the MS disease process. Read More

Landmark MS Scientific Research Foundation funded study demonstrates that “rebooting” the immune system stops new disease and leads to recovery in people with aggressive multiple sclerosis

June 9, 2016

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Currently, disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) approved for multiple sclerosis (MS) appear to work by blunting the destructive autoimmune response that targets tissues in the central nervous system (CNS). For many individuals living with MS, DMTs offer measurable therapeutic benefits by suppressing... Read More

Researchers mine MS Scientific Research Foundation-funded biobank to discover a genetic mutation associated with an aggressive form of primary progressive MS

June 1, 2016

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

REVISION: June 3, 2016 Background The precise factors that cause multiple sclerosis continue to puzzle researchers today, although the prevailing view is that a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors interacts to trigger the emergence of the disease. Over the past three decades, Read More

MS Society-funded research team develops and tests a new compound to promote myelin repair in mice

May 16, 2016

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background The human body activates a complex repair program in response to damage to myelin, the substance that coats and protects nerve fibres in the central nervous system (CNS). The repair program involves the generation of new myelin-producing cells called oligodendrocytes that apply new myelin... Read More

MS Society-funded team devises a new technique to study the movement of myelin-forming cells

May 12, 2016

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background As the central nervous system (CNS) develops, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) spread throughout the brain and spinal cord. Over time, they develop into mature oligodendrocytes, the cells responsible for producing myelin – the insular coating that surrounds nerve fibers and allows... Read More

MS Society-funded study shows that variations in vein anatomy of the neck are not limited to people living with MS

May 3, 2016

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) describes a theory first posited in 2008 by Dr. Paolo Zamboni (University of Ferrara, Italy) hypothesizing that people living with multiple sclerosis experience narrowing or blockage of the veins in the head and neck, resulting in the build-up... Read More

Two studies by MS Society-funded researcher shine the spotlight on comorbidity in multiple sclerosis

April 15, 2016

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Many people living with multiple sclerosis may also be affected by other chronic diseases. When someone is living with more than one condition, those conditions are termed “comorbidities”. Last year, MS Society Dr. Donald Paty Career Development Award and Operating Grant holder Dr. Ruth Ann... Read More

MS Society-funded study explores ‘nanoparticles’ as a potential therapeutic strategy in mice with an MS-like disease

March 8, 2016

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background One of the challenges facing multiple sclerosis researchers is discovering new ways to stop the process whereby the immune system attacks its own body tissues – termed autoimmunity – while leaving the general immune system intact to fight infection. A key priority in research is to develop... Read More

MS Society-funded doctoral student demonstrates the adaptive potential of a child’s brain in pediatric-onset MS

February 22, 2016

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background The human brain is a web of nerve cells that are in constant communication with one another. Even when the brain is unconscious, certain networks of nerve cells continue to fire away in a flurry of activity. These so-called resting-state networks are thought to keep the brain primed and alert, Read More

MS Society funds two new studies poised to bring laboratory discoveries one step closer to becoming treatments for progressive MS

February 12, 2016

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background The need to close the gap between discovery research in the laboratory and clinical trials, in order to accelerate the delivery of safe and effective treatments to people with multiple sclerosis is an urgent priority. In 2014 the MS Society of Canada formed a collaboration with the Centre... Read More

MS Society-funded study shows that nicotine reduces the invasion of harmful immune cells into the brain in mice with an MS-like disease

February 9, 2016

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background A substantial body of evidence suggests that smoking tobacco increases the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) and may even accelerate disease progression. On the other hand, nicotine, the ingredient in tobacco responsible for its addictive properties, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory... Read More

MS Society-funded study explores promising neuroprotective protein in mice with MS-like disease

December 21, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Cytotoxic T cells are a special kind of white blood cell that act as important warriors in the immune system’s host defense response against infection: they recognize and destroy target cells (such as those infected with a pathogenic virus) by programming them to die. In multiple sclerosis, Read More

Intricate niche of cells and tissues in the brain may be fueling inflammation in progressive MS

December 14, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background The disease process underlying progressive MS remains a complex, largely unsolved area of research. People living with progressive MS often respond poorly to current MS immune-modifying therapies, suggesting that progressive MS is less an inflammatory disease and more a neurodegenerative... Read More

MS Society of Canada-funded study uncovers a protein that keeps inflammatory cells in check

December 2, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Microglia are specialized immune cells found only in the brain and spinal cord of the central nervous system (CNS). When activated, these cells help coordinate the inflammatory response in a healthy system; stimulating the recruitment of other immune cells as well as clearing leftover cellular... Read More

MS Society-funded postdoctoral fellow identifies a molecular switch that restrains the development of inflammatory immune cells

November 24, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when immune cells target and attack the central nervous system (CNS), causing inflammation and damage to both myelin (the protective covering around nerve fibers) and, eventually, nerve fibers as well. A leading agent in this inflammatory... Read More

New collaborative study funded by the MS Scientific Research Foundation will explore how the microbes in the gut influence MS in children and adolescents

November 23, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background The lush bacterial ecosystem in our intestines – referred to as the gut microbiome – has co-evolved with humans to give us the means to efficiently break down food and supply us with extracted energy and nutrients. Beyond its role in digestion, the gut microbiome has a profound impact on... Read More

MS Scientific Research Foundation funded multi-site study makes breakthrough in identifying type of white blood cell involved in MS

October 26, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Research into understanding and treating multiple sclerosis (MS) has largely been centered on a type of white blood cell known as the T cell or T lymphocyte. T cells are in charge of protecting the body against harmful infections, but in the case of MS T cells have been identified as important... Read More

MS Scientific Research Foundation-funded research draws links between exercise and disease severity in children living with MS

October 8, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Approximately 2 - 5 % of all cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) are diagnosed in children and adolescents. Although relatively uncommon, pediatric-onset MS differs from the adult form in that it is more aggressive; children have larger brain lesions and more frequent relapses than adults. It... Read More

Study by MS Society-funded doctoral student describes the impact of parental MS on early childhood development

August 31, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Like many chronic disorders, the psychological and social impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) extends beyond the people living with the disease to encompass their families.  For young children, a parent’s chronic disorder can be a source of stress and anxiety and, in some instances, can affect... Read More

MS Scientific Research Foundation funded study boosts efforts in pediatric MS research, implications for understanding adult-onset MS

July 21, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Before the launch of the Canadian Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Network in 2004, pediatric multiple sclerosis was under-recognized and poorly understood. The prevalence and impact of MS in children and adolescents was unknown, and how their MS differs from MS in adults was yet to be determined. Read More

MS Society-funded researchers find that anxiety, but not depression, is linked to gender in multiple sclerosis

July 20, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Nearly half of all individuals living with MS will experience a major bout of depression at some point during their lifetime and are three times more likely than people without MS to suffer from anxiety. Large population studies of non-MS individuals have consistently found higher rates of... Read More

MS Society-funded study investigates running as a possible therapeutic strategy to reduce MS-related pain

June 26, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background  Roughly 50% of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience MS-related pain. The pain is thought to arise from damage and inflammation to the  central nervous system (CNS), leading to abnormal processing and/or transmission of pain-related messages from the body to the CNS. The... Read More

MS-Society funded postdoctoral fellow identifies promising new biomarkers for secondary progressive MS

June 11, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Many small molecules in the body are exquisitely sensitive to the presence of a disease. These molecules, which can include DNA, proteins, carbohydrates and fats, can be used as signatures to quickly and accurately detect a disease and to measure its progress or its response to a particular... Read More

MS Society-funded research uncovers new mechanism by which front-line MS therapeutic interferon-beta suppresses harmful inflammation

June 5, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background T-lymphocytes ( T-cells ) are a class of immune cell that fight infection. They are also one of the primary contributors to the development of MS. During an MS attack, myelin-reactive T-cells invade the  central nervous system (CNS) where they orchestrate and direct an autoimmune response... Read More

MS Society-funded research uncovers a promising new therapeutic target for preventing immune cell invasion of the brain

May 28, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Many different types of immune cells are thought to contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS).  While some have firmly established roles, others are still hotly debated. One of these mysterious types is a group of immune cells called CD8+ T lymphocytes ( T cells ). While present... Read More

MS Society-funded study brings to light importance of treating other medical conditions to improve health and survival

May 27, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background People who are affected by chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis often encounter significant challenges given the long-lasting nature of the diseases and disability that is associated with them. It is important for health care professionals and researchers to better understand how the... Read More

MS Society-funded fellow demonstrates the ability of the hormone prolactin, when combined with interferon-β, to reduce disease severity in animals with MS-like disease.

May 14, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background While we know that women living with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience fewer relapses during mid to late pregnancy or while breastfeeding, we are not sure why this occurs. One possibility lies with the hormone prolactin. Necessary for milk production, prolactin is at its highest levels... Read More

MSSRF-funded study demonstrates that proper myelin repair depends on the removal of myelin debris by specialized immune cells

April 7, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background The degradation of the  myelin sheath that surrounds nerves in the  central nervous system (CNS), an event referred to as  demyelination , is a hallmark of multiple sclerosis.  Remyelination is the body’s natural mechanism of repairing myelin, although this process is compromised during MS, Read More

MS Society-funded study puts to test a promising new target for MS treatment that has significant potential to stop neurodegeneration and promote recovery

March 3, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Standard medications that are available to treat MS work by  influencing the activity of the immune system . The development of these medications is based on the observation that MS is predominantly driven by an autoimmune response, in which the body’s natural defenses start to attack healthy... Read More

MS Scientific Research Foundation-supported study highlights puberty as a significant factor in development of multiple sclerosis

January 30, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Mounting evidence suggests that a number of biological, genetic, and environmental factors contribute to one’s risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). One of the more widely accepted factors is sex; females are reported to be three times more likely to develop MS than males, and this... Read More

MS Scientific Research Foundation-funded trial poised to explore promising new mesenchymal stem cell therapy in people with MS

January 28, 2015

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have recently garnered the attention of multiple sclerosis (MS) researchers for their remarkable ability to reduce harmful inflammation and promote healing of injured tissue. However, it is not currently known whether MSC can benefit people affected by MS, an... Read More

Two MS Scientific Research Foundation-funded studies shed new light on pediatric-onset MS

December 18, 2014

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Although most cases of MS begin during adulthood, some estimates suggest that 2 - 5 % of all cases are diagnosed in individuals under the age of 18, and MS has on rare occasions been diagnosed in children as young as two years old. MS that has been diagnosed in children and adolescents –... Read More

MS Society-funded researchers show that breakdown of the blood brain barrier precedes lesion formation in MS

December 15, 2014

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background  Disruption to the  blood brain barrier (BBB) – a gateway that controls which cells and molecules enter the central nervous system – is a defining feature of the disease process underlying MS. However, the timing of BBB breakdown relative to other disease events, such as the formation of... Read More

MS Society-funded study identifies a biomarker in primary progressive MS for targeting with immune-directed treatments

November 3, 2014

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background An estimated 10 to 15% of people with MS suffer from the primary progressive MS (PPMS) subtype; unlike the more common relapsing-remitting (RRMS) subtype, those with PPMS experience steady progressive deterioration in neurological function without remissions (periods of recovery) and a poorer... Read More

Canadian researchers explore recent evidence on depression in people with MS

September 9, 2014

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background Depression – a condition marked by persistently low mood and a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities – is common among people living with MS, adding significant burden to their well-being. It is challenging to detect depression in individuals with MS, as a distinction must be made... Read More

MS Society supported study reveals neuroprotective role of immune cell

August 14, 2014

• MS Society Funded

Background: Microglia are a type of immune cell that act as the primary form of defense in the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia act by killing viruses, bacteria, or other foreign cells, as well as by assisting with wound healing processes by collecting, or “scavenging,” cellular debris. Recent... Read More

MS Society-funded study identifies key molecules that may impair remyelination in MS

August 6, 2014

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: Brain cells transmit information through axons, the long fibre-like extensions of the cells wrapped in a substance called myelin . Myelin protects the brain cells while enhancing their capacity to communicate with each other. In MS, immune cells that normally act to protect our bodies cross... Read More

MS Society-supported researchers shed light on critical mechanisms for cell entry into the central nervous system in MS

July 31, 2014

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: The blood-brain and blood-spinal cord barriers (BBB and BSCB, respectively) are important features of the body that regulate the passage of cells into the brain or spinal cord from the bloodstream. It has been shown in mice that exhibit MS-like characteristics that when the physical integrity... Read More

A comprehensive, nationwide MS Society-supported study provides clues about factors that contribute to living a long and healthy life with MS

July 28, 2014

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: People with MS are living longer than in the past, likely attributable to a higher life expectancy in general and increasingly effective treatments for MS. Strategies for reducing disability and improving quality of life in later years have thus become of great interest, underlying the need... Read More

Results from MS Society supported study provide new information on brain communication in people with MS

July 24, 2014

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: The corpus callosum is a part of the brain consisting of thick nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres. In MS, the corpus callosum is known to become increasingly damaged as the disease progresses, consequently leading to reduced communication between the two hemispheres. Read More

MS Society supported study examines intensive care unit admissions in people with MS

June 20, 2014

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: Little is known about the risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission in the nonelderly MS population and health outcomes following admission. It has been previously shown that MS is linked to increased risks of infection and heart disease , which could increase the risk of being admitted... Read More

MS Society funded study assesses diagnostic criteria for CCSVI

June 6, 2014

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: In June 2010, the National MS Society (USA) and the MS Society of Canada committed over $2.4 million to support seven new research projects that would gain further insight into the relationship between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and MS. One of these studies was led... Read More

MS Society supported study investigates relationship between cannabis use and cognitive dysfunction in MS

May 23, 2014

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: Cognitive dysfunction affects 40-60% of individuals with MS. Common signs of cognitive dysfunction include decreased memory, concentration, and attention, as well as difficulty putting thoughts into words. It has been shown through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that in individuals... Read More

MS Society-supported study reports biological differences that can help identify people with aggressive MS disease

February 12, 2014

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: Approximately 80% of people with multiple sclerosis present with a relapsing-remitting course. In this type of MS, relapses, which can also be called ‘flare-ups’ or ‘attacks’, are separated by periods of recovery during which symptoms do not appear. Much work in the field of MS has been... Read More

MS Society funded study identifies antipsychotic drug as potential therapy for progressive MS

November 19, 2013

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: Developing a new drug is a complex process involving an enormous amount of time, money and effort. Taking basic research findings about a disease like MS, and translating them into viable, safe, and effective therapies can take decades, and even after that there are still additional regulatory... Read More

MS Society-funded research aims at helping repair nerves damaged by MS

September 4, 2013

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: What do we know about repair in MS? The majority of therapies for MS specifically target components of the immune system that are believed to cause damage to tissues in the brain and spinal cord. Although these ‘immunomodulatory’ treatments are successful in reducing myelin injury, they... Read More

Results from MS Society of Canada funded study exploring CCSVI and MS in children

August 21, 2013

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: Searching for clues about CCSVI and MS in the younger population Often considered a disease which affects adolescents, multiple sclerosis (MS) has been observed in a small percentage of children. Diagnosed before reaching their teenage years, children with MS experience symptoms of a relapsing-remitting... Read More

New results from MS Society of Canada funded study exploring CCSVI and MS

July 30, 2013

• MS Society Funded

Background: Determining the link between CCSVI and MS Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) is described as a condition in which the veins in the head and neck are narrowed or blocked (an effect known as stenosis) and therefore unable to efficiently remove blood from the brain and spinal... Read More

MS Society supported study yields new information on "remyelination"

July 9, 2013

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: Remyelination and MS Multiple sclerosis symptoms are the result of damage to myelin, a substance which wraps around and protects the wire-like structures known as axons which are found in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve. Myelin also serves as an insulator for axons, allowing them... Read More

Canadian study reveals subgroup of T cells which target oligodendrocytes in MS

April 8, 2013

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background: Immune cells and targets It is believed that multiple sclerosis disease is prompted by a series of immunological events. However, the mechanism by which immune cells enter the central nervous system (CNS) and cause tissue damage remains to be defined. A group of lymphocytes known as CD4... Read More

Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation funded study advances understanding of risky but effective stem cell treatment

April 5, 2013

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Background – Stem cell therapies in MS Stem cells are unique cells in the body which possess the capability to ‘self-renew’, or replicate themselves, as well as develop into specialized cells which perform specific functions. These characteristics have identified stem cells as a potential treatment... Read More

CCSVI Case-Control Neurosonography Results Announced

February 27, 2013

• MS Society Funded

Background: Determining the link between CCSVI and multiple sclerosis Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) has been a topic of active discussion over recent years. The association between CCSVI and MS, originally reported by Dr. Paolo Zamboni, MD from the University of Ferrara in Italy, Read More

New MRI technique discovered by University of Alberta researchers will help track disease progression

December 19, 2011

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

SUMMARY Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a way to track the progression of MS by using a new MRI method that measures iron levels in brain tissue. This finding will provide a better understanding of the impact MS has on the brain over time and will enable researchers to track... Read More

Researchers reveal a dual-protective role of the Hedgehog pathway

December 2, 2011

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Summary A research team from the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) provide further understanding of the method by which the blood brain barrier (BBB) works to avert attacks of the immune system on the brain. These findings which have been published in the prestigious journal Science... Read More

MS Society of Canada announces $3.8 million to study progressive forms of multiple sclerosis

November 29, 2011

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Summary The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation announced a $3.8 million grant to investigate the complex interplay between degeneration and inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS). The grant will fund a three year study led by Dr. Peter Stys... Read More

Neuroinflammation and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress are Co-regulated by Crocin to Prevent Demyelination and Neurodegeneration

November 16, 2011

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Summary Researchers from the University of Alberta have found that crocin, an active ingredient in the spice saffron, has a neuroprotective effect and may offer a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis. [André M. Deslauriers, Amir Afkhami-Goli, Amber M. Paul, Rakesh K. Bhat, Shaona Acharjee, Kristofor... Read More

MRI parameters identified for prediction of MS diagnosis in children with acute CNS demyelination

November 14, 2011

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Summary Researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, Ontario) and University of Toronto who lead the Canadian Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Network developed a standardized scoring tool to identify MRI predictors that can be used to diagnose MS in children with acute CNS demyelination. Read More

Neurons Susceptible to Neuronal Damage through a Novel Mechanism Mediated by Granzyme B

November 9, 2011

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Summary University of Alberta researchers report that neurons are susceptible to neuronal damage through a novel mechanism mediated by Granzyme B (GrB) and its receptor mannose-6-phosphate receptor (M6PR).Inhibiting this mechanism offers new approaches for future MS therapies. [Yohannes Haile, Katia... Read More

B Cell-Derived IL-15 Enhances CD8 T Cell Cytotoxicity and is Increased in MS

November 7, 2011

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Summary Researchers at the Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal, Hopital Notre-Dame in Montreal investigated the involvement of interleukin-15, a cytokine, on CD8 T cells or 'killer T cells' as it relates to the mechanism of MS. [Raphael Schneider, Alma Nazlie Mohebiany, Igal Ifergan, Diane... Read More

Impaired neurosteroid synthesis in multiple sclerosis

November 4, 2011

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Summary Researchers at the University of Alberta discovered that the genes responsible for producing neurosteroids, which allow brain cells to communicate and enable cell repair and re-growth, are suppressed in people with MS. Increasing the level of these neurosteroids in the central nervous system... Read More

Research Teams Report Progress from First Six Months of 2-Year Projects Focusing on CCSVI and MS

January 31, 2011

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Summary Six-month progress reports from seven multi-disciplinary teams investigating CCSVI (chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency) in MS indicate that they have established rigorous protocols, are successfully recruiting participants, and are on-track to evaluate and deliver important data when... Read More

MS Society of Canada commits $1 million for CCSVI clinical trial

September 16, 2010

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Toronto, Ontario - September 16, 2010 – The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada board of directors unanimously approved a motion to reserve $1 million for a chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and MS pan-Canadian therapeutic clinical trial. The funding will be set aside so that an immediate... Read More

Calnexin Deficiency Leads to Dysmyelination

September 16, 2010

• MS Society Funded

Summary Edmonton – Researchers have identified a gene that leads to a chain of events which impacts the speed at which messages are relayed in the nervous system. The work involved a team of researchers – throughout Alberta and around the world and was funded in part by the MS Society of Canada. Allison... Read More

A ChIP-seq-defined genome-wide map of vitamin D receptor binding: Associations with disease and evolution

August 23, 2010

• MS Society Funded

Summary The extent to which vitamin D deficiency may increase susceptibility to a wide range of diseases is dramatically highlighted in research just published. Scientists have mapped the points at which vitamin D interacts with DNA – and identified over two hundred genes that it directly influences. Read More

Over $2.4 Million Committed to Support Seven Operating Grants to Explore the Relationship of CCSVI to Multiple Sclerosis

June 11, 2010

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Expedited international review facilitates July 1 launch of CCSVI research project funding Toronto , Ontario - June 11, 2010 - Over $2.4 million has been committed by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the National MS Society (USA) to support seven new research projects focusing on chronic... Read More

Acne medication may delay progress of multiple sclerosis

October 25, 2007

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Canadian researchers investigate common medication as alternative MS treatment Calgary, October 25, 2007 – A common acne medication that has been available for over 30 years has the potential to delay the progress of multiple sclerosis and if proven effective, will offer an inexpensive option for the... Read More

Bone Marrow Transplantation Study Update: Participants Treated in Study to Stop MS Progression

February 18, 2005

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Summary The Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation is funding a multi-centre project to determine definitively whether transplanting bone marrow stem cells in people with MS can stop the disease. Led by Dr. Mark Freedman (MS neurologist) and Dr. Harold Atkins (bone marrow transplant physician), Read More

MS Scientific Research Foundation Funded Study Looks at Canadian Children to Uncover Triggers of Multiple Sclerosis

May 7, 2004

• Canadian Study
• MS Society Funded

Summary The MS Scientific Research Foundation and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada announced funding May 4, 2004 of a $4.3 million, multi-centre study of children who have had an initial attack (clinically isolated syndrome or CIS). The five-year study will follow the children to find out which... Read More