MS Society update: 2009: Substantial Progress Propelled MS Research Forward

This year saw exciting research progress, with unprecedented opportunities on the horizon and more scientists than ever working on important questions. While the economic environment resulted in an unfortunate slowing of funding, creating gaps in planned expenditures to support MS research, we hope this impact will be of short duration.

Despite these challenges, the National MS Society continues to propel research forward and move us closer to a world free of MS.

In 2009 the Society provided over $33.5 million to support 345 new and ongoing projects in our research portfolio, plus $1.5 million for Fast Forward, our drug development subsidiary which continues to attract new funding streams. In addition, thanks to the efforts of our MS activists, $5 million has been specifically set aside for funding MS research out of the 2009 Department of Defense budget.

The Society has nimbly pursued promising opportunities when they arise, such as the recent request for research applications to expeditiously examine the potential impact of the chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) hypothesis on disease process in MS.

Here is just a small sample of the many important, potentially high-impact research results that occurred this year, which support our three research goals: stopping MS, reversing the damage and restoring function, and ending MS forever.