$4.5 Million Appropriated to Continue Established MS Research Program

We are pleased to announce that $4.5 million has been appropriated within the FY 2010 Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) for multiple sclerosis research. This program is funded through the Defense Department at the direction of Congress and was signed today by the President. This latest appropriation is a continuation of the MS program that was founded in FY 2009.

“This continued opportunity is of great benefit to not only our nation’s 28,000 veterans living with MS, but to everyone and every family touched by the disease,” said Joyce Nelson, National MS Society’s President and CEO. “Emerging evidence has shown that combat veterans could be at an increased risk of developing MS. This important ongoing research being conducted under the CDMRP could help us move one step closer to better treatments and a better understanding of the disease.”

Congressman Russ Carnahan (MO-3) and Congressman Michael Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) have been strong advocates in this effort and have led a multi-Member letter of support for the appropriations request, garnering the signatures of more than 100 Members of Congress. “We owe it to the brave Gulf War veterans who have proudly served their nation to look into the causes of the higher rate of MS appearing in this population and to research possible cures,” said Congressman Russ Carnahan. “By shedding more light on the causes and treatments for MS those with combat service related MS as well as all others with the disease are given hope for a future cure.” Congressman Michael Burgess, M.D. continued, “Multiple sclerosis is a cruel disease, and one of the great unsolved mysteries of our day. As a medical doctor and a Member of Congress, I am proud to support work to research and help find cures and treatments for MS and other health care challenges that Americans, including our nation’s veterans, face.”

Beginning in 2006, MS activists went door to door and engaged online tools to collect more than 100,000 signatures supporting a research program for MS within the CDMRP. Building on this impetus, Society Chapters with their MS activists and our Federal Advocacy team in Washington, DC participated in hundreds of congressional meetings on the Hill and in home states. They took the case to the media, to town hall forums and testified before Congress. In addition, MS clinicians and people living with MS served on an Integration Panel, which helped to prioritize the MS research areas within the FY 2009 program. The first round of applications for 2010 that will be funded are expected to be announced this spring. “The tireless work of the thousands of MS activists who advocated across the country for these continued appropriations is a vivid example of the power that each of us have in working to create a world free of MS,” said David Chatel, National MS Society Executive Vice President, Advocacy.

Other allies who helped petition Congress for this new MS research funding included the American Academy of Neurology, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, United Spinal, AMVETS, the Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Disabled American Veterans.

Learn more about the National MS Society’s Government Affairs and Advocacy efforts.

Introducing Mark Scheerer, Programs Director

I am the Chapter Programs and Services Director; and have been with the chapter since 1993.  When I started with the chapter back in ’93 the first drug to actually treat MS had just been released and there was a lottery to determine who received the drug since there was a limited supply at that time.  That seems like a long time ago!  Over the years there have been so many changes in treating MS and it’s great to work for an organization that has helped spearhead many of the changes.

My experiences with the chapter have been both good as well as challenging.  I’ve been lucky to meet people who I consider my friends – both people with MS and also my co-workers.  Our staff is a dynamic one and I’m convinced one of the best in the country at working together to put an end to multiple sclerosis.  Challenges have come as I’ve seen some of my friends become increasingly affected by MS which makes me work even harder to contribute to the efforts of our chapter.  While I work directly with people living with MS, I also ride in our Bike MS: Tour to Tanglewood.  In this way I can share with other cyclists the ways their efforts are making a difference in the lives of over 2400 people living with MS in our chapter.

Introducing Bonnie Nevin of the Programs Department!

Hi, I’m Bonnie Nevin, one of the Programs and Services Managers for the chapter. I’ve worked for the National MS Society since July 2005 and my passion for serving people with MS has grown immensely during those four years. I began my work with no personal connection to multiple sclerosis but now I claim many people with MS as my friends and associates including one of my very closest friends.

In my role at the chapter, I coordinate and implement educational, wellness, research and family programs for people living with MS and their family. I thrive on organization so I really enjoy the planning part of my job. But my real love is putting the programs in action and meeting all of the great people that come to them.

My hope is that all of the people out there living with MS contact the National MS Society to find out all we have to offer. Whether it is a referral to a neurologist, a question about a symptom of MS or you want to find a self-help group in your area, we are here to help! My co-workers are all wonderful people and day in and day out, we are working toward one ultimate goal: to find a cure for MS but in the meantime to make sure that people with MS have the best quality of life possible!