This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Accelerated Cure Project for MS is seeking out individuals who meet
the following criteria in order to fulfill a sample and data request
from researchers at NASA.

The researchers at NASA will be using repository samples to perform
pathogen and gene expression analyses in an effort to provide insight
into one of the potential causes of MS.

There are no drugs involved, only a blood draw and extensive
interview.

Criteria:

* Diagnosed MS within the past 2 years
* Never taken any MS drugs
(Avonex,Betaseron,Copaxone,Rebif,Tysabri,or chemo)
* No antibiotics or steroids w/in 2 weeks prior to sample draw
* No cold or flu reported day of draw
* 18 years or older
* Able to travel to one of our 6 participating sites in:
Worcester, MA
New York, NY
Baltimore, MD
Atlanta, GA
Dallas, TX
Phoenix, AZ

If you meet the above criteria and live or travel near one of our
sites, please contact repository director for more information:

Sara Loud
781-487-0032
acp-study-director@acceleratedcure.org

Details on our repository:
http://www.acceleratedcure.org/repository/index.php

_________________
Art Mellor Dx 2000
You can see what we have to offer at
http://www.acceleratedcure.org/offerings/

I emailed to find out when. Maybe this is a way in which I can contribute.

I forgot to mention, if you don't meet the criteria above, but have MS, TM, NMO, ADEM, or ON, you can still participate in the repository in general if you can get to one of the sites. Just contact Sara (above) but don't say it is for the NSA project.

_________________
Art Mellor Dx 2000
You can see what we have to offer at
http://www.acceleratedcure.org/offerings/

Hey Art-
You are one of my heros. Since my husband's dx last March (he's 44-like you), I've read a bunch about you and studied up on your site. You are doing amazing work, and it is appreciated.

Just wanted to say thanks for all of us...hope you are doing well, and dealing with your own MS.

best,
the aging cheerleader

I scheduled an appointment. March 11. I will make the drive from Cincinnati to Atlanta. "Making" my daughter go with me. She loves road trips, so it will be a good time, I'm sure.

Awesome Terry! Thanks for doing this!
Lori

I am very happy to get to be involved in this. I am just under the 2 years of dx so the timing is good!

Hi all. I packed my bags and headed for Atlanta on Sunday. My daughter and I spent the day on Monday mostly shopping and eating, and on Tuesday we went to the Shepherd Center for my appointment. The study coordinator was amazingly kind and friendly and the blood draw was a breeze. They had told me they would take 11 vials and I worried a bit, but they weren't very large and it was easy.
I am glad I was able to do this, and hope my participation will help in the search for the reason behind MS and ultimately in finding a cure.
We drove back to Cincinnati after the appointment and I was back to work today, albeit a bit tired.
One thing I wondered.... there was an extensive questionnaire I had to fill out. One set of questions asked my dominant hand, and the dominant hand of my parents, siblings, grandparents, and children (and their father). Anyone know why this might be important?

Terry

.

This could be totally wrong but it might be the case that they think that a gene involved in handedness is linked to a gene involved in MS susceptibility.

NHE

.

We ask that question because almost all neurological studies want to know that information. It isn't specific to MS, but could be used for correlating other factors to see if there is a pattern. People who look at MRIs also like to know handedness. Handedness is correlated with many other things, like intelligence, autism, and others.

So, it's just a neurological measure that could be interesting.

_________________
Art Mellor Dx 2000
You can see what we have to offer at
http://www.acceleratedcure.org/offerings/

Doh - I would totally have taken part but it's a bit far to go to give blood - from England!

I wonder if this, "dominant hand", question is related in any way to the recent research into finger length ratios? The difference in length between the index and ring finger turns out to be a surprisingly good indicator of both sexuality and athletic ability. This unexpected link seems to have its basis not only in genetics but also in exposure to androgen and oestrogen in the womb, and at the very least increases our understanding of foetal development.
Maybe this question, which sounds a bit bizarre at first, might lead to similar understanding .
As Bob said, "no stone unturned",

_________________
Dom

^^ got a link for any of that - sounds interesting!