This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I recently took part in an MS clinical trial (sponsored by the NIH) that was intense and risky, but potentially disease altering--it could change how MS is treated. It is my understanding that all 23 people participating in the Phase II study, all with “aggressive” MS, have had zero disease progression to date. I made a powerful video of the whole procedure. My goal: that cutting-edge research continues to get funded and that my fellow MSers come away with a renewed sense of hope.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VTu--htcMI

The video was first shown at a National MS Society BikeMS event earlier this year. For those interested, you can also track my progress in detail at ActiveMSers.org, the nonprofit I established to inspire people with the disease to stay active physically, socially, and intellectually. Be active, stay fit, and keep exploring!

Dave Bexfield, ActiveMSers.org

Nice youtube video and way to go Dave !!

I've been reading alot lately on here and on an ALS forum site about all the new trials starting to take off using stem cells as Geron just launched phase-I trials for spinal cord paralysis, Neuralstem and Brainstorm have launched phase-I trials for ALS, Northwestern University is now doing the trials for CIDP (autoimmune neuropathy) etc. and it's good to see MS have it's stem cell trials also.

Anyways best wishes to you and keep on fighting !!

harry

I recently heard from the HALT-MS study coordinator. And it is really good news for the holidays: apparently all 23 people in the study have not seen their MS progress. The clinical trial had its first transplants in 2007, but I'd guess almost half occurred in the last year, so it is still in its infancy (in terms of both the research process and the relative age of our immune systems). But this early result is very encouraging, especially since the clinical trial only accepted those with aggressive multiple sclerosis.

-Dave

Great news, though I wish they could perfect the stem cell treatment without the high dose immune suppression. Encouraging news nonetheless.