Executive Director of Fast Forward

What are the opportunities for stem cell research in MS?

MS is chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system
You lose myelin, which paralyzes you
Slide of an image showing active lesions in the brain of a person with MS

You get sensory problems, vision problems, vertigo, spasticity, fatigue, termor, balance problems, cognitive issues . . . most frustrating

There are 4 known types
relapsing, remitting 85 %
primary progressive 12%
secondary progressive 50%
and the worst, which i missed the name of but is the worst and affects 5% of people who have MS

So what causes it? Don't know. A genetic predisposition combined with an environmental trigger

Image of a nerve cell with its axon all bare

T cell cross the blood/brain barrier, which attack myelin and results in symptoms

current treatments
corticosteroids, disease modifying treatments, symptom management

one of the things we're beginning to see is that even with all these disease modifying treatments, there is still an increase in disability . . . a progression in a downward direction

so if we can control the disease, can we reverse it?

how do stem cells fit in?

stimulate repair by transplantation
use stem cells as platforms for neuroprotection
figure out what causes the loss of axons
use stem cells as a platform for discovery

these 4 areas are exciting opportunities for us in terms of funding and moving forward