International Experts in MS Care Convene in Atlanta for Annual Meeting
ATLANTA, GA – Stem cell research offers possibilities of restorative therapy—this time for multiple sclerosis, according to Drs. Mark Freedman, Antonio Uccelli, and Harry Atkins, international experts in MS care and research. This was just one of the latest developments in MS research presented at the Consortium of MS Centers (CMSC) 23rd Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, May 27th through 30th.
“We are seeing new developments in MS research that will directly affect patient care in the coming years,” said CMSC President Colleen Harris, RN, MS, MSCN, MSCS, “and the Annual Meeting is one of the primary places where new information is disseminated and explored. We have professionals in all levels of care, and from all over the world coming together to talk about MS.”
The CMSC Annual Meeting has grown exponentially in recent years to include more than 1300 MS professionals from many different countries, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Estonia, France, Italy, Latvia, Finland, and a delegation from China, in addition to members from the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. The CMSC has partnerships with ECTRIMS (European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS), ACTRIMS (Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in MS), LACTRIMS (Latin American Committee for Treatment and Research in MS), and RIMS, (Rehabilitation in MS), a European network of MS rehabilitation programs.
Atlanta was a fitting location for an international gathering because of the contributions of the two major MS Centers in Atlanta: the MS Center of Atlanta (MSCA) and the Shepherd Center. Both of these centers are active in the CMSC throughout the year and during this current meeting.
Ismari Clesson, the Director of Clinical Trials at the Shepherd Center and Crawford Research Institute in Atlanta, coordinated a special MS clinical trials training session on Tuesday, May 26, before the CMSC Annual Meeting. Ben Thrower, MD, Director of the Shepherd Center for MS gave two presentations on “Basic Immunology Applications in MS” and “MS Treatment Options and Relapse Management.”
Dr. William Stuart, Founder and Medical Director, and Cynthia Bishop, Clinical Manager of the MSCA both presented at a breakfast symposium. In a related note, the MS Center of Atlanta in April of 2009 named R. Terry Smith its new chief executive officer, which Dr. Stuart felt would help the growing MS Center to focus on its aim to advance the availability of new treatments for MS patients in the southeast region of the United States. Dr. Stuart was personally responsible to helping introduce imporant MS clinical drug trials in Atlanta during the early 1990s, giving patients access to the most cutting edge therapies.
Dr. Randall Schapiro, former Director of the Schapiro Center for MS at the Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology and a founder of the CMSC, shared his “Personal Journey in MS Care ” at the CMSC opening ceremonies. “Many CMSC presenters are part of the history of MS diagnosis and treatment who contributed to the foundation upon which current MS care is based,” Ms. Harris said.
She added that the vast body of collective knowledge the CMSC has amassed from its global outreach was the inspiration for its theme for the 2009 Annual Meeting and for years to come: “Building the Future of MS Care.”
For information on these and other stories reported at the CMSC, and for photos of presenters, please contact CMSC media representative, Linda Peckel at
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For more information on multiple sclerosis, or to offer support for research, go to www.mscare.org . The Consortium of MS Centers is committed to being the preeminent professional organization for Multiple Sclerosis healthcare providers and researchers in North America, and a valued partner in the global MS community. Its core purpose is to maximize the ability of MS healthcare providers to impact care of people who are affected by MS, thus improving their quality of life.
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