Stay tuned for updates!
The details for next year's program will be announced in January 2025. To receive updates and be included in the mailing list for the 2025 Call for Applications, please send an email to info@cmscfoundation.org. Thank you.
Program Overview
FCMSC Research Scholarships afford medical students the opportunity to conduct a mentored MS research project at a CMSC member institution. These projects are designed to afford students exposure to MS research and clinical care, encouraging an understanding and interest in a potential career path in multiple sclerosis. The Research Scholar Program has been expanded to allow medical students the opportunity to conduct research projects year-round.
Eligibility and Guidelines:
- Student applicants must be currently enrolled and actively training in an accredited medical school program and should arrange a proposed research program with a mentor at a CMSC member center prior to submitting their application.
- Research proposals should follow the scientific method with a stated hypothesis, aims, background, methods, and analysis plan. The proposals must be written by the students; mentors should review to ensure a feasible and testable hypothesis and project.
- Research should focus on the clinical and translational aspects of human research. Basic science research would not typically be funded. Quality improvement projects would also not typically be funded.
- Medical student research should most often coincide with the interval in medical school where students are able to work on their project full time over several months.
Medical Student Research Scholars
Presenters at the 2024 Annual Meeting
Your support of a medical student’s FCMSC Research Project experience builds the future of MS Care.
Make a donation to support Medical Student Research Scholars
Bayer Healthcare/June Halper Research Scholars
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals has provided support through the Foundation for the annual June Halper MS Summer Research Scholarships, recognizing the contributions of June Halper, MSCN, ANP, FAAN, to the CMSC and multiple sclerosis comprehensive care.
Supported through an FCMSC grant from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.
The 2018 scholarship was awarded to Kimberly Young, mentored by Dr. E. Ann Yeh, at the SickKids Research Institute. Kimberly presented her research project titled “Magnetization Transfer Saturation Reveals Subclinical Optic Nerve Demyelination in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis” at the 2019 Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington.
The 2017 scholarship was awarded to Kimberley Chang, mentored by Drs. Anthony Traboulsee and Shannon Kolind at the University of British Columbia. Kimberley presented her research project titled “Myelin Water Fraction as a Potential Marker of Progression in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis” at the 2018 Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 2016 scholarship was awarded to Megan Le, mentored by Dr. Anthony Traboulsee at the University of British Columbia Hospital MS Clinic and Research. Megan’s research project titled “Longitudinal study examining the relationship between FLAIR`2 and disability status in MS patients” was presented at the 2017 CMSC Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA.
The 2014 awardee Hunter Vincent, mentored by Dr. Mary Ann Picone at the MS Comprehensive Care Center at Holy Name Medical Center presented his research project titled, “Utilizing Technology to Improve Patient Adherence and Professional Patient Monitoring for at-home exercise program in patients with MS” at the 2015 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The 2013 scholarship was awarded to Jamie Currie McDonald, mentored by Dr. Emmanuelle Waubant at the University of California, San Francisco, MS Research Center. Jamie’s research project titled “Salt intake and pediatric MS susceptibility” was presented by Dr. Jennifer Graves at the 2014 Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas.
The 2012 scholarship was awarded to Sirisha Grandhe, mentored by Dr. Emmanuelle L. Waubant at the University of California, San Francisco, MS Research Center. Her research project titled “Environmental Risk Factors associated with Pediatric Neuromyelitis Optica” was presented at the 2013 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.
The 2011 scholarship was awarded to Jenny Feng, mentored by Dr. Robert Naismith at the Washington University in St. Louis John L. Trotter Multiple Sclerosis Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Her research project is titled “Tracking Neurodegeneration from Acute MS Lesions”.
The 2010 awardee Jerry Loo, mentored by Dr. Lilyana Amezcua at the University of Southern California presented his research project titled, “Development and Testing of a Disease-Oriented E-Folder for MS Patients” at the 2011 Annual Meeting in Montreal, Canada.
Steven R. Schwid Memorial Research Scholars
This award was established in honor of the late Steven R Schwid, MD, FAAN.
Supported through an FCMSC grant from Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.
Katherine Otto received the 2016 scholarship. Katherine presented her research project titled “Correlation of Social Support Networks and Disease Progression in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis” at the 2017 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA. Katherine conducted her research under the mentorship of Dr. Jonathan Howard at NYU Ambulatory Care Center Multiple Sclerosis.
Katelynn M. Wilton received the 2015 scholarship. Katelynn presented her research project titled “Role of TCR/CD3 Signaling in TMEV-induced Demyelination” at the 2016 Annual Meeting in National Harbor, MD Katelynn conducted her research under the mentorship of Dr. Adam Schrum at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Department of Immunology.
Jyotsna Mullur received the 2014 scholarship. Jyotsna presented her research project titled “Analysis of the 25 Foot Timed Walk Test as a Predictive Factor in Multiple Sclerosis” at the 2015 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, IN. Katelynn conducted her research under the mentorship of Drs. Peter Riskind and Carolina Ionete at the Multiple Sclerosis Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Megan Collins was awarded the 2013 scholarship. Megan’s research project titled “Validating a Community-Based Measure of Leg Use for MS” was presented by her mentor Dr. Victor Mark at the 2014 Dallas Annual meeting. Megan conducted her research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham MS Center.
Rajarshi Mazumder received the 2012 scholarship. Rajarshi presented his research project titled “The Fes-I Predicts Falls and ABC Scored in People with Multiple Sclerosis” at the 2013 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. Raj conducted his research under the mentorship of Dr. Michelle Cameron at the Oregon Health & Science University and Portland VA Medical Center.
Morgan Boes was awarded the scholarship for 2011. Her research project titled “Dual Task Mobility Parameters as factors of Falls Risk in persons with Multiple Sclerosis” will conduct her research project under the mentorship of Dr. Robert Motl at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Motor Control Research Lab.
The first annual Steven R. Schwid Memorial Research Scholarship was awarded in 2010 to Charlotte Philippson, for her research project titled, “A Pilot Study of Dynavision for Assessment of Visual-Spatial Perception of Patients with MS.” Charlotte conducted her project under the mentorship of Dr. Galina Vorobeychik at the Fraser Health Multiple Sclerosis Clinic in British Columbia.