This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story ... study.html


$1 million for a website to track patient self-reporting (almost universally declared unreliable) seems like a big waste of money to me.

I posted a reply yesterday, but the spooky GHoST seemed to wipe it out, so I'll try to remember what I said and repost.

First Newfoundland, Now Alberta is going to fund studies to review Canadians who are treated outside of Canada. Why don't they just fund Dr. Sandy MacDonald in his proposed randomized double blind controlled study of Canadians with MS by Canadian interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons and neurologists right here in Canada.

Has anyone done a study of how much it is costing the Canadian economy for Canadians getting treatment outside of the country? When people are spending $10,000-$25,000 for travel and treatment in U.S., Mexico and overseas, that's money that's not being spent in the Canadian economy.

Plus, Dr. MacDonald estimates the cost of treatment in Canada would be about $1500. When Canadians spend $10,000 to $25,000- elsewhere and claim it on their income tax, in many cases, the income tax credit will far exceed what it would cost the taxpayer to provide the treatment at home.

Why don't we just get on with doing it here?!? That's what the majority of Canadians (a whopping 82%!) believe should happen according to an independent Angus Reid poll last week.

I live in Alberta and consider this a plus to help clinical trials go forward close to me and fellow albertans. It says;

“This study is a response to the remarkable interest amongst MS patients in the new MS treatment proposed by Dr. Zamboni,” said Dr. Tom Feasby, dean of the faculty of medicine at the University of Calgary.

“It will help us understand the experiences of MS patients having this intervention, including any complications.”

The learned info will be used by our provincial gov to make further decisions for clinical trials;

“Our government is committed to help build the body of evidence that will provide a clear indication, one way or the other, about the safety and effectiveness of this new treatment,” said Health minister Gene Zwozdesky. “This study is an important step in that process.”

Researchers from the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta will lead the study, which will look at the procedure's safety and success rate.

The information will be used to determine whether to move forward with future clinical trials and what followup care patients will require.


The only thing I don't like is it's length-3 years but it should have hundreds of case files over that time. Also allows for a good follow up time frame. Also it's a neorologist heading it up.
Maybe if in 12 months they have enough positive results they can be pressured into moving forward with trials sooner?