fall 2013 Utah-southern idaho chapter
MS Connection Newsletter university of utah to head data center
Society Commits $2.5 Million to Support Pediatric MS country to collect and analyze the data, we are The National MS Society announced a new, making headway in solving the MS puzzle.” three-year funding commitment of $2.5 million for the Network of Pediatric MS The NPMSC was launched with Society Centers (NPMSC), which includes nine clinical funding in 2006 to set the standard for pediatric centers and the University of Utah as the Data MS care, educate the medical community Coordinating and Analysis Center. Beginning about this underserved population, and create July 1, 2013, funding for the network will the framework to conduct critical research — continue to both to understand provide essential childhood MS and to infrastructure to unlock the mysteries facilitate research, of MS in adults. This including searching initiative laid the for the cause of groundwork for current MS by studying studies by the NPMSC risk factors for the to measure clinical and disease in children, cognitive manifestations close to the time of early-onset MS, and of exposure. This track environmental and support for data genetic triggering. In coordination contrast to adult MS, can be leveraged pediatric MS appears to answer other to have a narrower important research Boise Walk MS participant Andrea Varela is one of over window of onset with questions to advance 10,000 documented cases of pediatric MS more rapid and pervasive understanding of the cognitive symptoms, which need to be better disease in this most vulnerable group. understood if effective treatments are to be provided. “We are grateful for the National MS Society’s commitment to our important research,” said “This investment provides the infrastructure and T. Charles Casper, Ph. D, biostatistician and research support needed to keep this unique assistant professor of pediatrics at the University network — with the largest group of of Utah. “By working closely with the Society CONTINUED on page 3 and with all the pediatric centers around the