MS Research and Resources

Utility of the Nih Toolbox Cognition Battery in Multiple Sclerosis

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

Dysfunctional RNA Binding Protein Biology As Contributors to the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Disease of the Central Nervous System

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

Impacts of Dalfampridine on Interhemispheric Relationships in MS

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

Evaluating Cerebellar Contributions to Physical Performance and Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis

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

Right Under Our Noses: Olfactory Pathology in Central Nervous System Demyelinating Diseases

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

Best Poster by a Young Investigator
Interhemispheric Relationships In Multiple Sclerosis: Evaluation By MEG, EEG, and MRI
Ioan Belovarski, BS, UNM Health Sciences Center

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

Haiyan Peng, PhD, The Ohio State University,  Best Overall Work

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.

The 2011 Whitaker awardee is Mireia Guerau-de-Arellano, PharmD, PhD, a Postdoctoral Researcher affiliated with the Neurology Department of The Ohio State University. Her presentation is titled, “miRNA Biomarkers Modulate T-cell differentiation in Multiple Sclerosis.” Dr. Guerau-de-Arellano states: “My ultimate goal is to further our understanding of the basis of susceptibility to MS, while developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for this disease. I am very grateful for the financial aid and the prestige associated with this award, which are already helping me accomplish these goals.”

Robert Axtell, PhD, Stanford University, received the 2010 Whitaker Award for MS Research.  Simarian with Whitaker This annual prize, funded by the FCMSC through a three-year grant from EMD Serono, Inc, recognizes excellence among emerging clinician-scientists participating in the CMSC’s Whitaker Track scientific sessions focusing on the pathophysiology and immunology of MS.

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

The 2009 Whitaker Prize was awarded to Allison Drake, MSc, Jacobs Neurological Institute, State University of New York at Allison Drake, MScBuffalo. Her work on “Changes in Self-Reported MSPhysical Measures Reflect Clinically Meaningful Changes in Ambulation ” was judged to have a substantial promise to increase the understanding of the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis. The other members of the team are Paulette Niewczyk, Barbara Teter, Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, Cornelia Mihai, Carl Granger, and Frederick Munschauer

Francois Bethoux, MD, Mellen Center for MS/ Cleveland Clinic
A pilot single-blind randomized controlled trial to evaluate the safety and feasibility of rhythmic auditory stimulation for gait traning in persons with Multiple Sclerosis

Frederick Foley, Ph.D.,  Holy Name Medical Center, NJ
FCMSC Steven R. Schwid Memorial Pilot Grant Award
Pilot Randomized Control Trial of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for the Treatment of Pain Perception in Multiple Sclerosis

Francois Bethoux, MD, Mellen Center for MS/ Cleveland Clinic
John F. Kurtzke, MD Pilot Grant Award
Monitoring exertion-induced changes in gait parameters in patients with relapsing-remitting MS

Joshua Sandry Ph.D., Kessler Foundation Research Center
FCMSC Kenneth P. Johnson Pilot Grant Award
Hippocampal involvement in working and long-term memory to understand memory impairment in multiple sclerosis

Helen Genova, Ph.D., Kessler Foundation Research Center
Hillel S. Panitch Pilot Grant Award
Investigation of Social Cognition in Progressive MS

Pamela Newland, RN, PhD, CMSRN,  Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO
FCMSC Steven R. Schwid Memorial Pilot Grant Award
Passive Continuous, In-Home Symptom and Gait Measure for Patients with Multiple Sclerosis- A feasibility study

John R Rinker, II, MD, VA Medical Center, Birmingham
John F. Kurtzke, MD Pilot Grant Award
The spectrum of psychiatric disease among veterans with multiple sclerosis: Prevalence and utilization of mental health services

Tanuja Chitnis, MD, Partners MS Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
FCMSC Kenneth P. Johnson Pilot Grant Award
Piloting a handheld platform to investigate changes in quality of life (QOL), treatment satisfaction and adherence associated with initiation of oral DMTs

Sonya Kim, PhD, CRC,  NYU School of Medicine – Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
Hillel S. Panitch Pilot Grant Award
A Qualitative Study of Posttraumatic Growth in Partners of Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis

Francois Bethoux, MD,  Mellen Center for MS/ Cleveland Clinic
FCMSC Steven R. Schwid Memorial Pilot Grant Award
The Effects of Yoga Practice on Walking and Balance in Ambulatory Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Eric Chamot, MD, MS, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham
John F. Kurtzke, MD Pilot Grant Award
Interpretation of Changes in IRT scored version of NARCOMS performance scales

Miho Asano, PhD, School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University
FCMSC Kenneth P. Johnson Pilot Grant Award
The use of rehabilitation services in post-relapse management in Multiple Sclerosis

Tanuja Chitnis, MD,  Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Hillel S. Panitch Pilot Grant Award
Long term patient reported outcomes in pediatric onset Multiple Sclerosis

Helen Genova, PhD,  Kessler Foundation Research Center
FCMSC Steven R. Schwid Memorial Pilot Grant Award
Remediation of Emotional Processing Deficits in MS: A Pilot Study

Terry Lee-Wilk, PhD, VA Maryland Health Care System
John F. Kurtzke, MD Pilot Grant Award
A Cognitive Telerehabilitation Initiative for Veterans with MS

Jonathan Cook, MD, Columbia University
FCMSC Kenneth P. Johnson Pilot Grant Award
A Cognitive Telerehabilitation Initiative for Veterans with MS

Dagmar Amtmann, PhD,  University of Washington
Hillel S. Panitch Pilot Grant Award
New Ways to Measure Sleep of Individuals Living with MS

Marcia Finlayson, University of Illinois at Chicago
FCMSC Steven R. Schwid Memorial Pilot Grant Award
Developing a Clinical Reasoning Algorithm to Guide MS Fatigue Rehabilitation Interventions

James Mariott, University of Manitoba Health Sciences Centre
John F. Kurtzke, MD Pilot Grant Award
Project FARMS: Fall Risk Reduction in MS

Erin Snook, PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst
FCMSC Steven R. Schwid Memorial Pilot Grant Award
Development of a Comprehensive Global MS Symptom Assessment Using Modern Measurement Theory.
This annual study grant award, honoring the late Steven R. Schwid, MD is funded by Teva Neuroscience.

Anne H. Cross, MD, Washington University, St. Louis
John F. Kurtzke, MD Pilot Grant Award
Role of Adiponectin in MS and its Animal Model
Pilot research study funded through FCMSC by Questcor Pharmaceuticals