National MS Society Conference Serves As Platform to Share Newest Advances in MS Research & Treatment Attracting More than 800 Leaders In the MS Movement

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society hosts an annual leadership conference to recognize and celebrate volunteers, activists, researchers, healthcare professionals and, most importantly, people living with MS. "Together We Are Stronger" is the unifying theme motivating this year's conference, which will be held at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel, Thursday, November 5 to Saturday, November 7, 2015.

What:

• Learn about what's" hot" in MS research and what this means for people living with the disease.
• Meet the passionate "movers and shakers" in the MS field including researchers, activists, and people who have shaped the MS movement.
• Hear how cutting-edge science is advancing research and treatments for MS, including exciting new developments as shared by top MS scientific mentors and promising young MS researchers who are part of the Tykeson Fellows Conference, a biennial gathering of fellows and leading investigators in MS.

Why:   

• Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and the rest of the body.  Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted.  
• Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide. Advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS.

Who: 

• Notable conference participants will include:

Prestigious Research Leaders and Conference Participants:

• Dr. Steve Hauser—University of California, San Francisco, recipient of the Weaver Neuroscience Award and John Dystel prize for MS research, will deliver "The Joys of Discovery: From Bench to Bedside and Back Again," a landmark speech on the state of MS research today, including genetic repair, immune mechanisms and treatment of MS. He also will lead a panel of MS Researchers on Friday, November 6^th  at the noon General Session.
  
• Dr. Timothy Coetzee - the Society's Chief Advocacy, Services and Research Officer and Dr. Bruce Bebo, Executive Vice President of Research at the MS Society—are available to discuss how the organization is driving the world's most extensive research and services initiatives in order to help people with MS live their best lives, including the Society's groundbreaking $250 million No Opportunity Wasted (NOW) MS Research campaign, which  has accelerated vital progress towards stopping MS in its tracks, restoring lost function and ending MS forever and is the largest and most successful MS research campaign in history. Through the NOW campaign, the Society has launched 818 cutting-edge research projects exploring all promising paths for answers to MS, including 71 clinical trials testing a range of potential therapies, 141 projects aimed at helping people live well through diet, exercise and rehabilitation, 28 commercial research partnerships and 137 grants to young researchers.
  
• Dr. Ari Green—University of California, San Francisco, will discuss innovative translational research and testing a promising repair therapy strategy repurposing an antihistamine in a clinical trial.
  
• Dr. Haley Titus—Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, is available to discuss exciting work on the synergy of myelin repair and the immune basis of MS.  It was Haley's mother's MS diagnosis that inspired her personal and professional life goal to cure MS.

Inspiring People with Compelling Personal Stories

• Julie Roberts—In 2006, while working on the release of her second album, Julie was diagnosed with MS at age 26. Despite this fact, the renowned country singer was tapped by the legendary Sun Records label, home to Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and the early Elvis, for her current career-defining album "Good Wine and Bad Decisions," which debuted at the landmark NYC venue Joe's Pub. Julie wants people, both with and without MS, to know that she can and does still move forward with her life on all fronts. Julie will be performing a live concert on Friday evening.
  
• Trevis L. Gleason— After his MS diagnosis, this food journalist, published author, an award-winning chef and culinary instructor became an ambassador for the MS movement and launched his award-winning Life with MS Blog which earned him the #1 Online Influence ranking on the topic of MS in 2012. Trevis' love of the culinary arts has once again burgeoned in his acclaimed new book, "Chef Interrupted."  Trevis will co-emcee the Friday evening Awards Dinner.
  
• Janice Dean— Janice has been living with MS since 2005 and has found hope and become passionate about sharing her story to encourage others who are diagnosed with MS to live their best lives. In addition to predicting the weather for the Fox News Network, Janice is the author of popular children's series, "Freddy the Frogcaster."  Janice  will co-emcee the Friday evening awards dinner.

When: November 5-7, 2015
Conference Highlights - Research General Session Friday, November 6 from 12:15-1:30 p.m. and Julie Roberts concert from 8:00 – 8:45 pm

Where: Omni Fort Worth Hotel, 1300 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102; Phone (817) 535-6664

About the National MS Society 
The Society mobilizes people and resources so that everyone affected by MS can live their best lives as we stop MS in its tracks, restore what has been lost and end MS forever. To fulfill this mission, the Society funds cutting-edge research, drives change through advocacy, facilitates professional education, collaborates with MS organizations around the world, and provides programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.  Learn more at nationalMSsociety.org.   

For Interviews  Contact: Arney Rosenblat, [email protected] / 917-613-5711
Gena Hyde, [email protected] /713-962-0420

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SOURCE National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Related Links

http://www.nmss.org