This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I recently recieved a letter ( reply ) from the Minister of Health of Canada ( Leona Aglukkaq) She advised me that the CIHR through the Government of Canada funded MS research in 2008-09 to the sum of $5.3 million. In addition to this $120 million was allotted to neurosciences research and $38 million to stem cell research. She basially said that the CIHR would welcome funding applications through ongoing programs, such as the open operating grants competition from researchers interested in persuing further research in their field.
The letter then went on to mention that the MS society is welcoming proposals on reaserch also. I don't know if the CIHR and the MS Society work in conjunction at all or work totally independant of each other when looking at proposals from researchers.
I haven't been here long, but from previous posts, some of you weren't sure if there was other area that research funds could come from and the CIHR seems to be another possible source. I hope that anyone involved with wanting to fund some serious research knows that.
Like some of you, I don't know honestly what serious position the MS Society is taking on the position of CCSVI. They sure weren't interested at first untill they had to deal with the masses of us who questioned them on the subjuct. I sometimes think there is too much politics involved with associations such as this. That's not to say that they have not and do not do good things. I think that they must know that we ( the people that work hard to fundraise for them) see a tremedous door opening with the theory of CCSVI. We will not back down untill this theory is investigated. The timeline for doing this must be minimal.
This theory does not have to prove to be the ultimate cure. If it shows to have and reasonable positives it is better than the current treatments that only reduce the rate of relapses. Dammit, drugs does not have to be the answer to everything. This theory seems to be so simple to me. It makes sense! We are not doctors and to most of us this makes sense. Rather than disputing this theory and putting it up against the auto immume theory, perhaps our neurologists should be looking at perhaps how both theories could be looked at jointly to end MS.
Can we not look at this from a vascular stand point? Forget I have MS. Check me for Vascular blockages or restrictions. If they exist, is that healthy for me? I don't think so.
Sorry I got a bit off topic here. I just wanted to point out that the Canadian Institute of Health Reseaarch was another source of funding. I just want to add that this reserch that we need done doesn't have to take years if somehow we can look at previous and current results from Itally, Poland, Buffalo etc. Lets get off our asses people and make this happen NOW!

Hi Mechanic !! Welcome to the TIMS CCSVI Forum.

I hope that the Canadian researchers who are looking for funding from the CIHR know about this possible source of funding. Funding is always an issue for research, especially "out of the box" research. Maybe you could contact UBC (who have announced a CCSVI study) and Dr Haacke in Detroit who has Canadian collaborators and let them know about this source of funding.

ozarkcanoer

HI ozark

Im guessing that anyone (especially a university or clinic) that is serious about research in Canada knows that the CIHR is an option for funding. I just kinda put the word out there to ease some minds so that they know that there are other sources for funding other than our MS societies. I believe the UBC ( University of British Columbia) is going to be starting testing as soon as they can in the new year. This is of course after they have their funding in place. I'm thinking that if they have to waite untill June or July top see any actual funding from the MS Society, that they are looking in other area such as the CIHR.
The trouble is that this whole process can't happen fast enough for any of us. Once we can see some preliminary data of CCSVI being a common thread in most MS patients, we all know there is going to be a harder push from the public to get this ball rolling.
I hate being negative towards the MS society but in thier mission statement they say " they are to be the leaders to find the cure for MS and and enabling the people effected with MS to have a better quality of life. I don't see the MS society (of Canada anyways) being the leader here. I think we all want to see them being more proactive here. So far, I think we the people have been the proactive ones and kept the fires burning under their feet. I think they have some damage control to do for people to look seriously at fundraising for them. I hate to say that, but that's honestly how I feel. I think the MS society has to pick up the pace here and show us that they are the leaders they say they are.
Take care everyone and keep pushing.

mechanicallyinclined

Mechanic,

I agree about the MS societies. They are large, conservative organizations. Their wheels run very slowly and I am sure CCSVI has caught them by surprise. I have donated directly to the CCSVI study at BNAC and bypassed my MS society. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do !!

ozarkcanoer

HI Ozark

I'm thinking I will be sending my proceeds to the University of BC or Saskatoon as I think they are working in conjuction with one another. I shouldn't be so negative towards the MS society as I have used some of their resources in the past, but their initial lack of interest on this subject and lack to put on a real push here has just kinda turned me off here.
From my initial post here all I can emphasize to all Canadians to send out the word to our Ministers of Health at both levels of Government. Also contact the Canadian Institite of Health Research and lobby them to get things rolling also. I think that if any reputable university or clinic proposes any research that holds any merit and can prove that they have the people with the knowledge that can investigate this (CCSVI), I'm sure they won't be denied funding.
To our American friends, you also need to put pressure on your political leaders in your respective areas and help your researchers out as much as possible. There must be some organization in the US similar to our Canadian Institute of Health Research that distributes funding for American research. I would think that researchers on either side of the border will look at each others data and use that information to fast track proper protocol for treatment.
Zamboni and company along with others that have bought into his concept have laid the ground work for further research and trials. We just have to expand on it from there. Take care!

I think the corresponding institute in the USA is the National Institutes of Health or the NIH. Good idea ! One of our posters, The Wheelchair Kamikaze, spent quite a bit of time this past year at the NIH. I think they must know about CCSVI because of him. Google "Wheelchair Kamikaze". He is a very intelligent, thoughtful person with MS.

ozarkcanoer

My sister just sent me an email she got back from an associate deputy minister on behalf of our provicial minister of health. It goes on to mention that there is provincial funding for health research in Canada. In Manitoba it happens to be the Manitoba Health Research Council. I'm sure all provinces have similar programs available also. Unfortunatley it takes time for researchers to get proposals together to request funding and then be able to act on it.
We have the ball rolling here people. Like you all I want this all done sooner than later.