Research Insights Episodes

Getting an MS diagnosis is not always the quick, straightforward process we'd like it to be. For some people, the process can drag on for years. But getting that diagnosis only happens when you and your primary care physician recognize that something's going on. It might be a sudden vision issue. Maybe it's unexplained tingling in an arm or leg. Or maybe it's something more acute that gets your attention. A wide variety of signs could point to MS, but they could also point to other health condi...

Less than two weeks ago, the National MS Society announced the appointment of Dr. Tim Coetzee as its new President and CEO. The MS Society's board chair, Peter Porrino, commented, "Tim is a trusted voice of the global MS community, a highly respected scientist, and we are excited for him to bring his transformative leadership to drive us into our next era to achieve a world free of MS." I thought it was important for everyone in the RealTalk MS listener community to hear from Tim and learn firs...

It's hard to imagine any area of our lives that hasn't been transformed by digital technology. That's certainly true for healthcare in general and MS diagnosis and treatment in particular. Dr. Riley Bove joins me to discuss the role that digital technology already plays in the diagnosis and treatment of MS and to share a preview of what's coming next. The National MS Society has named its new President and CEO. We're sharing the details! We'll tell you about some of the benefits that are bein...

As Harvard Fellow Dr. Nara Michaelson treated women who had been recently diagnosed with MS, she recognized they shared characteristics that she had observed in victims of violent domestic abuse. Dr. Michaelson's observation led her to write The Unraveling, an essay that highlights the fear that can accompany the uncertainty of living with MS. Dr. Michaelson joins me to discuss the experiences that led to her award-winning essay and to share resources that can help maintain your emotional healt...

The inequities associated with gaining access to quality healthcare are often discussed, and my guest this week has taken steps to address them. Dr. Jaime Imitola and his team at UCONN Health have created a tool called VISIBL-MS, a bilingual framework designed to increase doctors' and patients' awareness of the early signs of MS. We'll also share the results of a study that clearly illustrate progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA). We'll tell you about a small study that showed a p...

Over the course of her 39-year career with the National MS Society, including the past 13 years as its President and CEO, Cyndi Zagieboylo has been a driving force behind major initiatives that have fundamentally changed the MS treatment and research landscape. Creating a world where cures for MS are now within reach, Cyndi has led the work to make living with MS better today than it's ever been. On July 1, Cyndi is retiring from her remarkable career at the National MS Society. I had an opport...

Research is the engine that drives the future. And participating in MS research is not only vital to improving scientists' understanding of multiple sclerosis, it's also empowering. And the really good news is that you can participate in MS research from the comfort of your own home. My guest this week is the Managing Director of the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis, Dr. Robert Fox. And we're taking a deep dive into the NARCOMS patient registry. We'll also tell you about...

Two weeks ago, thousands of clinicians, nurses, physician's assistants, rehabilitation experts, and others traveled to Nashville to attend the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers 38th Annual Meeting. This is Part 2 of our coverage from that meeting. In this episode, we're sharing our conversations with some of the experts who were at the meeting to present their research. You'll hear the National MS Society's Executive Vice President for Advocacy and Healthcare Access, Bari Talente, share...

Last week, thousands of clinicians, nurses, physician's assistants, rehabilitation experts, and others traveled to Nashville to attend the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers 38th Annual Meeting. Welcome to Part 1 of our coverage from that meeting. In this episode, I'm talking with Dr. Kathy Zackowski, Associate Vice-President for Research at the National MS Society, and Dr. Zackowski is sharing some of the presentations that caught her attention. Next, you'll hear my conversation with Dr...

As we age, our bodies undergo biological changes. Our immune system changes. Our brain changes with age. Our cognitive abilities change, as do our physical abilities. These changes impact everyone. But these biological processes may impact people with MS differently. And MS may impact these biological processes differently. Just a couple of weeks ago, the International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials in MS brought together 100 top experts for a 3-day workshop dedicated to exploring how th...