Dear MRF Supporters and Friends,
We are pleased to announce the promising results of a MS-treatment clinical trial based on the research of an MRF Investigator, Dr. Stephen Miller at Northwestern University.
The Phase I trial showed that a new therapy designed to stop the body’s immune system from attacking myelin was safe for patients, suggesting the treatment could help prevent myelin damage. The study was published in Science Translational Medicine.
“For a Phase I trial, which is geared toward measuring safety, this is probably the best (result) we could hope for,” said Dr. Miller.
In the study, researchers took blood samples from nine MS patients and separated out the white blood cells. They then attached bits of myelin protein to these cells and injected each patient with their own modified cells. This technique allowed researchers to deliver myelin antigens into the body in a way that encouraged each patient’s immune system to develop a tolerance for those myelin antigens– rather than attacking them, as happens in Multiple Sclerosis.
The MRF is proud to fund innovative, high-risk/high-reward, patient-centered research. We congratulate Dr. Miller and his colleagues on this research, and we look forward to seeing this technology advance toward therapies for patients.
Best regards,
Virginia Saifer
Chief Development Officer
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