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2nd Research Day for People with MS

26th March, Venue: Church House Conference Centre, Dean’s Yard, Westminster, London, SW1P 3NZ

1030-1035 Simon Donald    –    ANOTHER FINE MS YOU’VE GOTTEN ME INTO

Simon Donald, “Him Off the Viz” opens the day with short presentation about his Mum’s battle with MS and his own surprise revelation which ocurred during the making of a documentary, produced by The REFINERY.

 

1035-1045 Prof Gavin GiovannoniTWO WAY STREET

Gavin is head of the neuroscience research team and gives a short introductory presentation on the vital importance of MS patient engagement with research.

 

1115-1130 Dr Sreeram Ramagopalan SUN, VIRUSES AND MS RISK

Sreeram opens the research talks with a presentation about the role that Vitamin D plays in MS. We can only make Vitamin D through our exposure to sunlight; if we don’t get enough sun, we increase our risk. Ram also talks about the role that EBV – the virus responsible for glandular fever, could play in the development of MS.

 

1130-1145 Maria Espasandin SMOKING, MS AND MINI MARIA

Maria, with a little help (or not!) from her sidekick “Mini Maria” discusses the evidence for the role that smoking might play in MS development and progression.

 

1145-1200 Ruth Dobson FAMILIES, GENES AND RELATIVE RISK

Ruth carries on the talks (after some refreshments) explaining some of the findings from analysis of genetic traits in MS. Even genetically identical twins, for example, do not have an identical risk for developing MS (its about a 30% chance that if one twin has MS the other will also develop it). This suggests that environmental factors play a role, as well as genes. She also extends an invitation to people who have siblings with MS to join her study and help uncover more of the secrets of MS risk.

 

1200-1215 Klaus Schmierer CCSVI – BIG IDEA, LITTLE EVIDENCE

Klaus tackles the thorny debate surrounding the controversial newly described syndrome, CCSVI and looks at what evidence we have that liberation treatment is effective.Monica MartaIn last year’s research talks Monica explained the trial that she was involved in researching. It is known that treatment with Interferon can result in a person creating their own antibodies towards the drug, and that this can, over time, begin to neutralize the effect of the interferon. Monica gives us an update on the trial finding

 

1215-1230 Monica Marta NEUTRALISING ANTIBODIES IN INTERFERON TREATMENT

In last year’s research talks Monica explained the trial that she was involved in researching. It is known that treatment with Interferon can result in a person creating their own antibodies towards the drug, and that this can, over time, begin to neutralize the effect of the interferon. Monica gives us an update on the trial findings.

 

1400-1415 Giles Elrington EMERGING MS THERAPIES

Giles romps through the latest news, research, licenses and evidence for a host of new MS therapies including Fingolimod, Tysabri and Interferons. He also explains the basis of what kind of result is required to make a clinical trial in MS a success.

 

1415 -1430 David Baker – THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF CANNABINOID DRUG DEVELOPMENT

David has been looking at developing therapies for MS associated spasticity for almost 20 years and has seen his research go from “bench to bedside”. He presents the latest breakthoughs in cannabinoid therapy and explains just why it takes such a long time to turn an idea into a treatment.

 

1430-1445 Katie Lidster – THE MAKING OF FLASH GORDON

With the help of some funny cartoons, PhD student Katie updates us on her research and explains how she has successfully created a new transgenic mouse which combines the characteristics of its Dad (Green Eyed Gordon) and its Mum (Optic Neuritis Nancy). We welcome FLASH GORDON to the MS research stable.

 

1445 -1500 Klaus Schmierer – REMYELINATION – THE EVIDENCE

For many people with more advanced MS there can sometimes feel like a research vacuum, with therapy and treatment often aimed at early disease. Here Klaus looks at evidence that remyelination occurs and the capacity that the human body may have to heal sclerosis, and whether this could potentially be harnessed to provide a cure.

 

1500-1515 Alison Thomson THE OUTPATIENTS EXPERIENCE

Alison is a graduate of the Royal College of Art and last year carried out her Masters project in conjunction with the Neurosciences team looking at the how the hospital experience could be made more enjoyable. She is now using a video diary room in Outpatients to audit the experience of its users in the hope that her research may lead to tangible improvements for patients. She updates us on her findings.

 

1515-1530 Beki Hawes HOW TO SHIFT.MS!

Beki has just been appointed Community Co-ordinator for Shift.MS a brand new website which aims to become the beating heart of the MS a younger outlook, although they stress that its all to do with atititude, not with age! Shift.MS was founded by George Pepper and Freddie Yauner after George’s diagnosis in 2004 aged just 22. Beki explains what they are up to and their hopes for growth, expansion and outreach in the next year.

 


So, what do you think ?