Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) February 04, 2014 -- The Multiple System Atrophy Coalition has announced its inaugural round of funding for researchers pursuing a cure for Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). Five grants were awarded totaling $219,000. The research projects and recipients are as follows:
- "Global MSA Registry & Study Group": Florian Krismer, M.D. (Innsbruck Medical University) and Lucy Norcliffe-Kaufmann, Ph.D. (New York University)
- "Stem cell-based Therapeutics Platform for MSA": Vikram Khurana, M.D, Ph.D. (Massachusetts General Hospital)
- "Mechanisms of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Sleep Related Respiratory Dysfunction in MSA": Eduardo Benarroch, M.D. (Mayo Clinic Rochester)
- "Peripheral delivery of brain-targeted neurosin as a novel treatment for MSA": Eliezer Masliah, M.D. (University of California San Diego)
- "Biomarker Development in MSA": Roy Freeman, M.D. (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center)
"This initial round of research grant funding represents an exciting first-step in the MSA Coalition’s active involvement in the search for a cure,” stated Judy Biedenharn, co-President of the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition. ”The high caliber of proposals that were submitted affirms our belief that promising research opportunities exist and are merely awaiting much-deserved funding.”
“We are especially grateful to CSP and the CARRE Foundation for shining the spotlight on MSA this past fall and for the nearly $144,000 they contributed to our research fund, continued Ms. Biedenharn, “Because of CARRE we were able to significantly increase the amount we awarded in our initial round of research grant funding. Its also important to note, The MSA Coalition is already well on its way to raising sufficient funds to support a second round of MSA research grants in 2014. We plan to announce a second call for MSA research applications this summer."
The Multiple System Atrophy Coalition established a dedicated MSA research fund in 2011. Then, the organization established an MSA Research Grant Program along with a scientific advisory board (SAB) in 2013. The goal of the MSA Research Grant Program is to identify and fund MSA research projects that have the potential to discover a cause, disease modifying treatments, and hopefully a cure. The world-class SAB ensures that The MSA Coalition is funding the most promising research. At present, 75% of each donation received by The MSA Coalition goes directly into the research fund. The other 25% used to fund advocacy, awareness, educational initiatives and minimal operating expenses.
About Multiple System Atrophy
Multiple system atrophy (previously known as Shy-Drager Syndrome) is a rare and fatal disorder with less than 15,000 Americans diagnosed and 35,000 undiagnosed at any given time. According to the National Institutes of Health, "Multiple system atrophy is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by symptoms of autonomic nervous system failure such as fainting spells and bladder control problems (neurogenic orthostatic hypotension), combined with motor control symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, and loss of muscle coordination. MSA affects both men and women primarily in their 50s. MSA tends to advance rapidly over the course of nine to 10 years, with progressive loss of motor skills, eventual confinement to bed, and death. There is no remission from the disease. There is currently no cure is available."
About The Multiple System Atrophy Coalition®
The Multiple System Atrophy Coalition is a positive beacon of hope standing up to a little known, rare, insidious disorder. Made up of dedicated volunteers, The MSA Coalition has a primary purpose of encouraging and funding research to find a cure. The Coalition also provides much needed patient and caregiver support, educational resources, and advocacy to create awareness and to fight for issues important to the MSA community. At present, as much as 75% of all donations go directly into a dedicated Multiple System Atrophy Research Fund which now supports a research grant program. The MSA Coalition also has a world-class scientific advisory board (SAB) to review and award research grants to the most promising MSA research proposals.
Don Crouse, The Multiple System Atrophy Coalition, http://www.multiple-system-atrophy.org, +1 866-737-5999 Ext: 203, [email protected]
SOURCE The Multiple System Atrophy Coalition
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