Taylor N. Takla, Wayne State University
Patricia N. Matsuda, University of Washington
Tracy E Herring, University of Washington Medical Center
Nora E. Fritz, Wayne State University
Ana M. Daugherty, Wayne State University

Saurabh Kumar, BS, Department of Dermatology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA | Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA
Khashayar Afshari, MD, MPH, Department of Dermatology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
Alexandra Rabin, BA, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA
Farnaz Khalighinejad, MD, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA
Nimmy Francis, PhD, MBBS, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA
Fatima Qutab, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
Danny Kwong, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
Irina Radu, MD, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA Idanis Berrios-Morales, MD, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA
Christopher Hemond, MD, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA Dalia Abou Zeki, MD, Atrium Health Neurosciences Institute Neurology Kenilworth, Charlotte, NC
Jillian M Richmond, PhD, Department of Dermatology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
and Carolina Ionete, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester

Anita Shankar, M.S., Heena R. Manglani, M.A., Oyetunde Gbadeyan, Ph.D. and Ruchika S. Prakash, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Hannah Salapa, University of Saskatchewan
Cole Libner, University of Saskatchewan
Kara Tastad, University of Saskatchewan
Michael C. Levin, University of Saskatchewan

Metabolomics Analysis Identifies Abnormal Bile Acid Metabolism in Multiple Sclerosis

Leah Mische, BS, Johns Hopkins University

Establishing the Relationship of Quantitative Vibratory Sensation and Sensory Cortical Areas in Multiple Sclerosis

Nora E. Fritz, PhD, PT, DPT, NCS, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

Ioan Belovarski, BS , Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM
Jeffrey D Lewine, PhD , Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM
Corey C Ford, MD, PhD , Department of Neurology, UNM Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM

Nora E Fritz, PhD, PT, DPT, NCS, Kennedy Krieger Institute; Chuyang Ye, BS, Johns Hopkins University; Jerry Prince, PhD, Johns Hopkins University; Zhen Yang, BS, Johns Hopkins University; Jennifer Keller, PT, Kennedy Krieger Institute; Allen Jiang, BS, Kennedy Krieger Institute; Chen Chun Chiang, B.S., Kennedy Krieger Institute; Rhul Marasigan, B.A., Kennedy Krieger Institute; Peter A Calabresi, MD, FAAN, Johns Hopkins University; Kathleen M Zackowski, PhD, OT, Johns Hopkins University

Albert Joseph, MRes, University of Oxford; Jithin George, MRCP, University of Oxford; Richard Yates, BSc, University of Oxford; Marie Hamard, MSc, University of Oxford; Margaret Esiri, FRCPath, University of Oxford; Gabriele C DeLuca, MD, DPhil, University of Oxford

Other Authors: Erik V Burton, MD, UNM Health Sciences Center; Jeffrey D Lewine, PhD, UNM Health Sciences Center; Corey C Ford, MD, PhD, UNM Health Sciences Center

Best Platform Presentation by a Young Investigator
Fingolimod inhibits cytotoxic T cells: A novel immunomodulatory effect of the unphosphorylated compound
Achilles Ntranos, MD, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Other Authors: Inna V Grishkan, BS, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Dionne P Robinson, BS, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Olivia J Hall, MSc, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Sabra L Klein, PhD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Peter A Calabresi, MD, FAAN, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Anne R Gocke, PhD, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Best Overall Research by a Young Investigator
Stat1 Regulates Neural Stem-Cell Function By Transcriptional Regulation of Sox9
Jaime Imitola, MD, Harvard Medical School

Dimethyl Fumarate Protects the Central Nervous System Against Excitotoxicity

In the past twenty years, significant progress has been made in both understanding the pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and treatment of patients with MS.  MS seems to be more complicated than just inflammation: in fact, accumulating evidence demonstrates that neurodegeneration is also a large component of MS pathogenesis and contributes to disease progression. This is evidenced by the failure of current therapies to slow down continuous brain atrophy in secondary or primary progressive MS patients (SPMS or PPMS). Therefore, a new challenge for MS research is to develop effective neuroprotective interventions for progressive forms of MS.

One project of my graduate work is to determine the potential neuroprotective effects of dimethyl fumarate (DMF, BG-12 as the brand name), a novel oral medication under the evaluation of Federal Drug Administration. To exclude the strong immunological component (for example in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalitomyelitis), an excitotoxic model of neuro-injury was utilized in our study. Our preliminary data demonstrated that pre-treatment of DMF successfully reduced acute neuronal damage. Moreover, these treated mice had better motor activity compared to untreated mice, suggesting the possible protective effects of DMF.  Currently, we are in the process of evaluating the effects of DMF in mice with chronic excitotoxic injury and exploring the molecular mechanisms through which DMF exerts its protective effects in the CNS.  We believe that this work will not only help enhance our understanding of MS, but it will also provide a mechanistic foundation for DMF treatment of progressive MS.

Gloria von Geldern, MD, Johns Hopkins University, Best Poster Presentation

Hand Function in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease that can affect several areas of the central nervous system and may lead to problems with vision, bladder control, sensation, coordination, or strength.  Rating scales can help measure these symptoms and the resulting disability.  Most rating scales strongly emphasize impairments in walking when measuring disability in MS. Hand dysfunction is not frequently assessed in MS patients and therefore little is know about the frequency and severity of hand problems.  There is also very limited data on how to best measure hand function in MS patients.  However, the ability to use your hands impacts quality of life and is critical for maintaining independence in many life tasks. To better evaluate this issue, Drs. von Geldern and Zackowsky at the Johns Hopkins MS Center and Kennedy Krieger Institute are studying hand function in more than a hundred patients with MS, evaluating grip and pinch strength measured with a dynamometer as well as nine-hole-peg test and finger tapping test.  The study found that hand dysfunction is a common problem in MS, in particular in individuals with the progressive disease form.  More than a third of patients with progressive MS have grip strength less than 50% of healthy controls.  The study also shows that grip strength and the nine-hole-peg test measure different aspects of hand dysfunction, suggesting that both tests should be included when evaluating upper extremity disability in MS.  The next step is to study hand function longitudinally.  This will help determine how well these tests are able to detect changes in hand function and to quantify the extent that hand function changes in individuals with MS.  This information will be important when designing trials that study the effect of rehabilitation interventions for individuals with MS.  It may also be a helpful tool when developing medications aimed to help individuals with MS regain function by promoting remyelination.

Rachel Tripoli, 3rd year Medical Student, Florida State University College, Best Platform Presentation

Deficient Contrast Visual Acuity In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Degrades Gait Performance Under Conditions Of Low Illumination

This study was a pilot study of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have reduced visual acuity and it demonstrated a correlation between a low functional ambulation profile (FAP) score and increased fall risk.  This risk shown to be minimized by the wearing of contrast enhancing lenses.

Th1 And Th17 Pathways Determine Opposite Results Of Interferon Beta Treatment Of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis And Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis