Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers and the Foundation of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers to Award Research Scholarship Donated by Genzyme Corporation

CMSC/FCMSC San Antonio Host City Scholarship” Announced at Annual Meeting

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) and the Foundation of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (FCMSC) announce the award of a new scholarship supported in 2010 by Genzyme Corporation for a San Antonio medical student interested in helping patients with neurologic disorders, including multiple sclerosis.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2010 FCMSC CONTACT: Ken Slavin
210-736-0856
210-313-0597 (cell)
kslavin@satx.rr.com

GENZYME CORP. MEDIA CONTACT:
John Lacey
Associate Director, Corporate Communications
617-768-6690
john.lacey@genzyme.com

Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Hosts International Gathering To Share Latest MS Research and Treatments
New Scholarship for UT Health Science Center To Be Announced

Genzyme, one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, has donated $15,000 for the CMSC/FCMSC San Antonio Host City Scholarship, which will be administered by the FCMSC through the MS Workforce of the Future program.

The scholarship announcement came during opening ceremonies for the CMSC’s 24th annual conference, “Multiple Sclerosis: Sustaining Care, Seeking a Cure.” More than 1,400 doctors, researchers, caregivers and other professionals who work in the field of MS are participating in the conference from June 2 to June 5 at Grand Hyatt San Antonio.

Terry Murdock, senior vice president and general manager of Genzyme’s MS program, joined FCMSC president Dr. James P. Simsarian and CMSC president Colleen Harris in announcing the new scholarship at the conference opening.

“We are very proud to partner with the FCMSC and the CMSC this year in support of this new scholarship,” said Terry Murdock, senior vice president and general manager of Genzyme’s MS program. “By helping to fund the medical education of a student interested in helping patients with neurologic disease, we support the efforts of FCMSC and CMSC to make a direct and meaningful investment in the future of MS research and treatment.”

The “CMSC/FCMSC San Antonio Host City Scholarship” will be awarded to a deserving student with an interest in neurology and who is currently enrolled at the medical school of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The scholarship will go toward tuition expenses and also include an opportunity for preceptorship sessions in both a San Antonio-based multiple sclerosis clinical care center and in a research-based setting.

Dr. Simsarian said Genzyme’s gift will help the FCMSC in its goal of supporting the next generation of leaders in the field of MS research and treatment. “It is critical to inspire and fund medical, nursing and other students to encourage them to pursue MS as a path of study,” Dr. Simsarian said. “Generous donations such as Genzyme’s will ensure that future generations of MS patients receive the high level of care provided by CMSC member centers – and that work continues to seek a cure. That is why we make educational initiatives our central focus.” According to Simsarian, in the past year the FCMSC has provided more than two dozen medical students with the opportunity to participate in MS-related research projects and present the results of their work.

For more information on the CMSC/FCMSC San Antonio Host City Scholarship and other educational opportunities, visit the FCMSC website at http://www.cmscfoundation.org.

ABOUT FCMSC The Foundation of the CMSC (FCMSC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the mission of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CSMC) and its members. Since its founding in 1999 as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the foundation has supported the CMSC in four principal, mission-driven projects:

Scholarships, Fellowships and Professional Resources providing training resources to support professional growth and excellence among active MS healthcare professionals
Developing the MS Workforce of the Future training and mentorship opportunities for new MS clinicians and emerging scientists
Increasing Research and Resources to enhance the quality of life and raise the level of care for those affected by MS, and
Support for the CMSC Global MS Patient Registry, the largest MS patient-driven database in the world.

FCMSC supports the ultimate goal shared by patients and professionals alike: Finding a cure. Building the future of MS through access to comprehensive services and expert researchers now and in the future will ensure that the understanding and care of this complex disease continues to improve until a cure can be found. FCMSC is governed by a voluntary and active Board of Directors who are active leaders in the field of MS care and research.

ABOUT CMSC The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) mission is to be the preeminent professional organization for Multiple Sclerosis healthcare providers and researchers in North America, and a valued partner in the global MS community. Its core purpose is to maximize the ability of MS healthcare providers to impact care of people who are affected by MS, thus improving their quality of life.

The CMSC includes a network of more than 150 MS Member Centers, more than 50 Veterans Administration programs, as well as several hundred individual members worldwide. No other professional association brings together as many disciplines with the sole purpose of caring for MS patients.

ABOUT GENZYME CORPORATION One of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, Genzyme is dedicated to making a major positive impact on the lives of people with serious diseases. Since 1981, the company has grown from a small start-up to a diversified enterprise with more than 12,000 employees in locations spanning the globe and 2009 revenues of $4.5 billion.

With many established products and services helping patients in approximately 100 countries, Genzyme is a leader in the effort to develop and apply the most advanced technologies in the life sciences. The company’s products and services are focused on rare inherited disorders, kidney disease, orthopedics, cancer, transplant and immune disease, and diagnostic testing. Genzyme’s commitment to innovation continues today with a substantial development program focused on these fields, as well as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and other areas of unmet medical need.

ABOUT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease.

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