• Quality of Life outcomes,
• Impact of Comprehensive Care,
• Neuroimaging,
• Immunology,
• Symptom management,
• Physical therapy/rehabilitation, and
• Psychosocial issues/depression.

Steven Schwid, MD

Dr. Schwid, a CMSC member noted for his contributions to neurology research and multiple sclerosis trial design, is honored through an annual CMSC research study grant award. Awards for 2010-2011 will be made by the CMSC Research Committee in late 2010.

The first CMSC study grant award in honor of the late Steven R. Schwid, MD, FAAN, was presented to Susan Bennett, PT, EdD, NCS, MSCS, Clinical Associate Professor, Departments of Rehabilitation Science and Neurology at the University of Buffalo, for her group’s submission, “Validity, Reliability and Sensitivity of Three Gait Measures for MS.”

The FCMSC also collaborated with the CMSC in funding a second 2009 study grant, “Exploring the Potential of Nintendo Wii to Promote Exercise in Persons with MS”, submitted by Marcia Finlayson, PhD, OT(C), OTR/L, from the University of Illinois, Chicago. This is an innovative project using 21st century technology that will assess the participation and patient outcomes of self-directed activity and exercise in people with multiple sclerosis. It will build upon previous evidence that supports the benefit of this strategy in older adults.

 Whitaker Prize for MS Research
The Foundation gratefully acknowledges the pledge of support by EMD Serono to support this prestigious award in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

John Whitaker, MD

This award is presented to a young and emerging scientist whose work is deemed to have substantial promise to increase the understanding of the pathophysiology, immunology, genetics and/or epidemiology of MS. It is named in honor of John Whitaker, MD, a pioneer and role model in MS research, particularly interested in the immunological and chemical aspects of neurological and neuromuscular disorders.

The 2011 Whitaker awardee is Mireia Guerau-de-Arellano, PharmD, PhD, a Postdoctoral Researcher affiliated with the Neurology Department of The Ohio State University.  Her presentation is titled, "miRNA Biomarkers Modulate T-cell differentiation in Multiple Sclerosis."  Dr. Guerau-de-Arellano states: "My ultimate goal is to further our understanding of the basis of susceptibility to MS, while developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for this disease.  I am very grateful for the financial aid and the prestige associated with this award, which are already helping me accomplish these goals."

Robert Axtell, PhD, Stanford University, received the 2010 Whitaker Award for MS Research. This annual prize, funded by the FCMSC through a three-year grant from EMD Serono, Inc, recognizes excellence among emerging clinician-scientists participating in the CMSC's Whitaker Track scientific sessions focusing on the pathophysiology and immunology of MS.

The 2009 Whitaker Prize was awarded to Allison Drake, MSc, Jacobs Neurological Institute, State University of New York at Buffalo. Her work on "Changes in Self-Reported MSPhysical Measures Reflect Clinically Meaningful Changes in Ambulation " was judged to have a substantial promise to increase the understanding of the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis. The other members of the team are Paulette Niewczyk, Barbara Teter, Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, Cornelia Mihai, Carl Granger, and Frederick Munschauer

.

The 2008 awardee was Laura M. Piccio, MD, PhD from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri for her work on "Identification of a Novel Soluble TREM-2 Protein in the Cerebrospinal Fluid and its Association with Multiple Sclerosis and CNS Inflammation". The other members of the team are Cecilia Buonsanti, Marina Cella, Ilaria Tassi, Robert Schmidt, John Rinker II, Paola Panina-Bordignon, Chiara Fenoglio, Daniela Galimberti, Elio Scarpini, Marco Colonna, and Anne Cross.

 Consensus Conferences
Since 2008, the Foundation of the CMSC has raised funds to support CMSC professional Consensus Conferences examining current and best practice management issues, advances in research, and potential educational needs for MS research and clinical care.

FCMSC gratefully acknowledges grants in partial support of these conferences and the dissemination of results through publications or educational programs from the following supporters:

• Acorda Therapeutics
• Allergan
• Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc
  
• Biogen Idec
• Genzyme
• Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc
• Teva Neuroscience
• XenoPort
  

AANF-CMSC Kurtzke MS Clinician-Scientist Fellowship: A CMSC and American Academy of Neurology Foundation Collaborative Award.

Gabriele De Luca, MD, PhD

The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) and the American Academy of Neurology Foundation (AANF) have awarded the first John F. Kurtzke, MD, FAAN, Clinician-Scientist Development Three-Year Award in MS to Gabriele De Luca, MD, PhD. This prestigious Fellowship award is supported by funding from the AANF as well as funding through the Foundation of the CMSC to honor the life-long contributions of Dr. Kurtzke, and to inspire new MS healthcare professionals to follow a career path in MS research and clinical care.

Dr. De Luca began work on his research project, "Genetic-Pathologic Correlations in Multiple Sclerosis," under the mentorship of Dr. George Ebers at the University of Oxford, in July, 2010. Dr. De Luca, formerly Chief Neurology Resident at the Mayo Clinic, recently was awarded the Waldman Prize for excellence in clinical neurology by the Mayo Clinic.

This three-year Fellowship Award is supported in part by grants from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., EMD Serono, Inc., Neurologic Disease Foundation, Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Teva Neuroscience. The Foundation of the CMSC continues to seek additional funding, and hopes to continue long-term support of this special award.

John F. Kurtzke, MD, FAAN

Dr Kurtzke has had a long and distinguished career in the field of neurology and neuroepidemiology, as Chief of the Neurology Service at the Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Medical Centers in Coatesville, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. A Navy veteran of World War II, he attained the rank of Rear Admiral in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Naval Reserve. Dr. Kurtzke served as Professor of Neurology at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., where he has been a faculty member since 1963 and is currently Professor Emeritus. Since 1992, he has also served as Distinguished Professor of Neurology at the F. Edward Herbert School of Medicine of the Uniformed Services University of Healthcare in Bethesda, MD. Among his many personal contributions to MS and epidemiological research, one very notable tool with which all MS researcher are familiar is the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), one of the most commonly used clinical measures of MS progression.

June Halper, Executive Director of the CMSC commented, “We are so proud to encourage the next generation to continue the important work Dr Kurtzke has established.”

Two 2010-2011 CMSC Pilot Study grants funded by the Foundation of the CMSC

Erin Snook, PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst, has been selected as the recipient of the FCMSC Steven R. Schwid Memorial Pilot Grant Award for her study, "Development of a Comprehensive Global MS Symptom Assessment Using Modern Measurement Theory." This annual study grant award, honoring the late Steven R. Schwid, MD is funded by Teva Neuroscience.

Anne H. Cross, MD, Washington University, St. Louis, was selected to receive the inaugural John F. Kurtzke, MD Pilot Grant Award for her study, "Role of Adiponectin in MS and its Animal Model," a CMSC Pilot research study funded through FCMSC by Questcor Pharmaceuticals.

The CMSC Research program continues to sustain the mission of the CMSC which is to support healthcare and research to benefit the quality of life of all those affected by multiple sclerosis.

The Foundation of the CMSC salutes the supporters of Research Programs:

• Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc
  
• EMD Serono, Inc.
• Neurologic Disease Foundation
• Questcor Pharmaceuticals
• Teva Neuroscience

With your help and support of the Foundation of the CMSC, we can ensure that future generations of people with MS will receive the quality healthcare they need and deserve.