NEW MEXICO

M O V I N G T O W A R D A W O R L D F R E E O F M S • F A L L 2 0 1 2

Two New Mexico scholars are getting a Society boost to the next level of their academic endeavors.

In 2012, the National MS Society: South Central – which includes New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana – was able to offer 48 scholarships to high school seniors. These Society-funded scholarships not only ease the financial burden of college for families impacted by multiple sclerosis, but they also invest in the future of talented, dedicated students.

Congratulations to our 2012recipients from New Mexico:

Mary MartinezHigh Rolls Mountain Park, New MexicoA graduate of Cloudcroft High School, Mary plans to attend the University of New Mexico

in Albuquerque. In high school, she participated in student council, National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, Knowledge Bowl, band and volleyball. She plans to major in Physical Education and pursue a career as a university-level manager or assistant coach.

Alyxandra OrtizRio Rancho, New MexicoDuring her years at V. Sue Cleveland High School, Alyxandra participated on the varsity soccer and

basketball teams. She will attend Eastern New Mexico University in Portales and take part in its communications program, with her sights set on becoming a sports broadcaster. She plans to become an advocate for athletes and sports fans alike who are faced with the daily challenges presented by multiple sclerosis.

As this year’s scholarship recipients demonstrate, multiple sclerosis shouldn’t stand in the way of an education. The National MS Society’s scholarship program exists to help highly-qualified students who have been diagnosed with MS or who have a parent with MS achieve their dreams of going to college.

The number of scholarships given each year is based on available funding. If you would like to learn more about how you can support students impacted by MS and help their dreams of college become a reality, contact Taylor Mallia with the Society’s South Central Strategic Philanthropy at taylor.mallia@nmss.org.

South Central Marketing ManagerKelly Jo Tullberg can be reached via email at kelly.tullberg@nmss.org. MSConnection Editor James Black canbe reached at james.black@nmss.org.

SOCIETy AWARDS 2012 SChOLARShIpSTO LOCAL COLLEGE-BOuND STuDENTSby KELLy JO TULLBURg and JAMES BLACK

My Scholarship StoryPAGE 4

Stuff Our StockingsPAGE 7

Research Round-UpPAGE 6

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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OFFICES CLOSED FOR upCOMING hOLIDAySNational MS Society offices will be closed on the following days:

• LaborDay Friday, Aug. 31 (half-day closure); and Monday, Sept. 3

• Thanksgiving Wednesday, Nov. 21 (half-day closure); Thursday, Nov. 22; and Friday, Nov. 23

• Christmas Friday, Dec. 21 (half-day closure); Monday, Dec. 24; and Tuesday, Dec. 25

NATIONAL MS SOCIETy

Albuquerque Trade Center3540 Pan American Fwy NE, Suite FAlbuquerque, NM 87107tel +1 800 344 4867tel +1 505 243 2792fax +1 505 244 0629www.MSNewMexico.org

STAFF & LEADERSHIPMarkNeagliRegional Executive Vice President

Maggie ScholdSr. Management, Development

VickiKowalCoordinator, Programs & Services

David petersChair, Leadership Council

JamesBlackEditor

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society does not endorse products, services or manufacturers. Such names appear here solely because they are considered valuable information. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society assumes no liability for the use of contents of any product or service mentioned.

Information provided by the Society is based upon professional advice, published experience and expert opinion. Information provided in response to questions does not constitute therapeutic recommendations or prescriptions. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society recommends that all questions and information be discussed with a personal physician.

Individuals interested in being considered for nomination to the Board of Trustees should submit a letter of interest and a biography, along with full name, mailing address, email address and phone number.

Nominees will be notified of board member expectations, responsibilities, and fiduciary and time commitments. Final candidates will be interviewed by a member of the governance Committee.

Nominations for the Board of Trustees must be submitted by Nov. 15, 2012 to:

Mark Neagli ~ National MS Society 8111 N. Stadium Drive, Ste. 100 Houston, TX 77054

NOMINEES FOR BOARD OF TRuSTEES NOW BEING ACCEpTED

SIGN up FOR OuRMONThLy MS eNEWS

Get the latest news on research in your inbox.Go to nationalMSsociety.org/signup.

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Dear National MS Society and all of those who support the Society,

I want to send a heart-felt thank you for the financial assistance you provided me last year. Because of your generosity, I was able to install hand controls in my vehicle. your assistance has greatly improved my life!

Due to MS, I had not been able to drive since December 2009. I live alone, and felt very isolated and dependent upon others to provide the things I need and, of course, for transportation. Unable to work and having limited resources, the prospect of being able to install hand controls and become more independent seemed unlikely.

When I learned of possible assistance through the National MS Society, I regained hope and made a phone call.

Everyone was so nice, and the process went so smoothly, quickly and efficiently. I would especially like to thank Marcia Stephens, Information Resource Specialist, and Jessica Fisher, Coordinator of Programs and Services. Both were extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Within a very short timeframe, my vendor was paid, the controls were installed and I began to drive again!

I have regained some independence and it has made a significant difference in my quality of life. Thank you so very much for your assistance. I am very grateful to the National MS Society and all they do, and so appreciate the contributions made by so many.

With gratitude and appreciation,

Kim Dixon

ON ThE ROAD AGAIN,ThaNKsToYoursupporT

LIVING WITh MS

Your bright idea can change thefuture for people living with MS.

Re-introducing MS Entrepreneurs - a grant program that provides individuals with funding to create solutions for the challenges faced by people living with MS. Submit your idea for consideration by 10.15.12 or 4.15.13.

Visit MSentrepreneurs.org to learn how.

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LIVING WITh MS

“What doesn’t kill you only serves to make you stronger,” I think as I explain to my grandma how her son’s MS has progressed into secondary progressive and that he is getting a power chair.

When my father was first diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS in 2007, I was only 13 and had little understanding of it. My father had previously gone through numerous medical examinations, only to be told, “You don’t fit the profile for MS.” Well, apparently he did, and was finally diagnosed after confirmation from an MRI and a spinal tap.

This diagnosis sparked an intellectual curiosity and changed my life’s journey. I had a change of heart my senior year after realizing my love and knack for science. Until that point, I did not have the faith in myself to do research. Moving five hours away from home for college was a difficult move. However, my father is proud every time we talk about his alma mater, NMSU, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

When someone asks me what my major is, they are usually surprised by my answer of government and biology. Most

people feel that the two are so very different. This can sometimes be a problem for scientists trying to promote the importance of their research projects. I’m going to school with the hope of doing research in biology and also interested in the policy-making side of research. With knowledge of politics and government, I hope to become an avid researcher in MS and promote this research to the politicians who make important legislation.

Participation in the RISE research program in a neuroscience lab will deeply enhance my knowledge of conducting this balancing act when I begin my research career. Our future financial situation is unpredictable, especially since my father had to retire from insurance. I know how lucky I am to have received the National MS Society scholarship, which put me one step closer to reaching my goal of a world free of MS by helping me get an amazing education.

National MS Society scholar Kathryn Sanchez is currently a student at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.

My NATIONAL MS SOCIETy SChOLARShIp STORy: BALANCING RESEARCh AND GOVERNMENTby KATHRyN SANCHEz

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FARMINGTONLean on Me Support groupMeets at 1 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday monthlySan Juan Regional Offices2325 East 30th St. in FarmingtonContact Donna: 505-334-3316 or 505-320-0784 Contact Debbie: 505-326-0657or 505-320-8095

RIO RANChOWestside Self-Help groupSelf-Help group for people with MSand their familiesMeets 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on the 3rd Thursday monthlyRio Rancho Church of Christ1006 22nd St. SERio Rancho, NM 87124Contact Tina: 505-896-6728

ROSWELLRoswell Self-Help groupMeets 4:30 – 6 p.m. on the 4th Tuesdayof every monthRoswell Adult Center807 North MissouriContacts: Shellie Hinkle at 575-910-4528 or Panda Moffittat 575-624-0573

NEW MExICOSELF-hELp GROupSThe National MS Society offers a variety of Self-Help groups across the state. For a complete list, visit MSNewMexico.org or call 1-800-344-4867.

We want to hear from yOU!What’s on your mind when it comes to MS? We want and appreciate your feedback, ideas, stories and letters to share.

you know you’ve got something to say, so here’s your chance. Contact MSConnection Editor James Black via email at james.black@nmss.org.

NEW MEXICO

M OV I N G TOWA R D A W O R L D F R E E O F M S

LIVING WITh MS

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The National MS Society offers a scholarship program for students living with multiple sclerosis or who have a parent living with MS. Applicants must be planning to attend an accredited post-secondary school for the first time and to take at least six credit hours per semester leading to a degree, license or certificate.

Each recipient is selected based on financial need, academic performance, compelling personal or family circumstances, and an applicant’s essay on the impact of MS on his or her life.

Awards range from $1,000 to $3,000 for one year. A small number of four-year awards are also offered.

Starting Oct. 1, 2012, scholarship applicationsfor 2013 are available on the Society’s website. There is no application fee for Society scholarships. Completed applications and supporting materialsmust be submitted by mid-January 2013.

For guidelines and applications, visitnationalMSsociety.org/scholarship or call theSociety toll-free at 1-800-344-4867 (press 1).

The Society’s website also has information on additional scholarship opportunities, includingfederal assistance and other financial aid resources.

2013 SChOLARShIp AppLICATIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE

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Many people have holiday wish lists at this time of year. At the National MS Society, our wish list is in season year-round.

Financial gifts provide the Society with the most

flexibility in delivering programs to everyone affected by multiple sclerosis. However, we recognize that many people have resources and connections to a variety of needed products and services that can also help us reach our goals.

• Airline tickets• Art and sporting event tickets• Audio/visual equipment and services• Banners and signs• Beverages• Catering• Children’s activities• Event supplies, such as tents, tables and chairs• Florist services• Food• Gift certificates or gift cards

to any store• Giveaway items• Home modification equipment or services• Hotel accommodations• Office supplies, including paper, mailing labels and toner• Professional photography services• Professional printing services for postcards, posters, brochures and newsletters

• Plaques and awards• Plastic and paper products• Portable toilets at fundraising events• Postage• Rental and refrigerated trucks• Restaurant space and usage for receptions• Walkers• Wheelchairs

STuFF OuR sToCKiNgFOR ThE hOLIDAyS AND BEyOND

Thankyouformakingtheholidays–andtheentireyear–brightwithyoursupport.

If you would like to donate any of the items listed below or know someone who can, please contact Taylor Mallia with Strategic Philanthropy by calling 1-800-344-4867 or via email at taylor.mallia@nmss.org.

TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867 | 7

In July, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society committed up to $18.4 million to support 52 new MS research projects and training fellowships as part of its comprehensive strategy to stop MS in its tracks, restore function that has been lost and end the disease forever. This financial commitment is the latest in the Society’s relentless research effort to move closer to a world free of MS.

The National MS Society’s long-standing investments in basic and translational research have resulted in new treatments and better methods of diagnosis and disease management for people with multiple sclerosis. The Society continues to pursue all promising paths that lead to solutions for everyone affected by MS.

To ensure the scientific merit of each research proposal selected, the National MS Society relies on expert advisory committees that include more than 70 world-class scientists who volunteer their time to carefully evaluate hundreds of proposals every year.

The new research projects include:• explorations of what causes people with MS to experience pain;• a DNA bank to aid researchers investigating the genes that make people susceptible to MS;• new approaches to promoting nervous system repair; and• fellowships to train promising young doctors and scientists in MS research and clinical care.

These new projects add substantially to the research goals outlined in the Society’s Strategic Response to MS.

There are FDA-approved therapies that can impact the underlying disease course in people with the more common forms of MS. However, none of these can stop progression or reverse the damage to restore function. The National MS Society-funded research helped lead to the development of many of these therapies and continues to be a driving force of MS research.

SOCIETy LAuNChES $18.4 MILLION IN NEW RESEARCh AND TRAINING pROJECTSSociety awards 52 new grants and fellowships as part of its more than $43 million investment in 2012 research projects

RESEARCh

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Clinical Trial Shows promise for New Therapy for Relapsing MS

In a clinical trial involving 1,169 people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, oral teriflunomide reduced relapses compared with placebo over at least 48 weeks. Of two different doses tested, the higher dose also slowed progression of disability. This is the third completed of five phase III studies involving teriflunomide in multiple sclerosis. An application for marketing approval of teriflunomide was accepted for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last fall.

These and results from additional studies should help define the short-term safety and promise of teriflunomide as a potential new therapy for relapsing MS.

New MS Drug Application Filed for FDA Review

In June, genzyme announced that it had submitted a new drug application to the FDA for approval to market alemtuzumab – under the proposed name Lemtrada – for treatment

of relapsing MS. The application was based on positive results from several clinical trials involving people with relapsing-remitting MS. Alemtuzumab is given by a cycle of IV infusions only once per year. The FDA review process generally takes from six to 10 months.

“People with MS need more treatment options. If the FDA agrees to file this application and its review finds alemtuzumab to be safe and effective, it would represent a significant new treatment advance,” said Dr. Timothy Coetzee, Chief Research Officer of the National MS Society.

Botox Research Moves to Reduce Arm Tremors

Botox significantly reduced arm tremor, and improved arm and fine hand movements and function, in a small study of people with MS. If confirmed in a larger study, this research may yield a new strategy to address this common and disabling symptom of MS, which is often resistant to treatment.

Italian Study Finds Therapiesreduceriskof Disease progression

Researchers who studied outcomes for 1,178 people with multiple sclerosis from three MS centers in Italy have concluded that using disease-modifying therapies significantly reduced the risk of progressing from relapsing-remitting to secondary-progressive MS. This study adds to the body of evidence suggesting that MS therapies improve future outcomes for people with MS, having a positive effect not only on inflammation but also on the damage to nerve tissues that causes progression of disability over time. The study requires further confirmation, but it indicates the value of pursuing every novel avenue to answer questions posed by MS.

proteinMayholdKeytoimmuneattacks

According to a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers have identified a protein that may be a target of the immune attack in some people with MS. An immune response to

RESEARCh ROuND-upRESEARCh

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this protein – called KIR4.1, which is found on several types of brain cells – was observed in the serum of 47 percent of people with MS who were tested. Further research is needed to confirm these findings, and to fully understand what the role of this protein may play in MS and its potential for developing new treatments. This international study was supported by grants from the german Ministry for Education and Research and the National MS Society, among others.

scientistsprobeEffectsof Stress Managementon MS Activity

In a recent study, a 24-week stress management program reduced disease activity on MRI scans significantly more than in a control group. However, the benefits seemed to disappear after the weekly in-person stress management sessions were completed. Future studies should provide more clarity for optimizing the potential benefits of stress management in people with multiple sclerosis.

The authors are continuing to examine these results. They also suggest that the use of telephone, Internet and mobile phone interventions may help sustain the results of stress management programs after the program stops, since long-term standard behavioral intervention can be burdensome for patients who must make weekly office visits.

Christoph Heesen, M.D., and Stefan gold, Ph.D., with the University Medical Center Eppendorf in Hamburg, germany, noted that this study may provide the first direct evidence “for a causal link between stress and inflammatory activity in these patients.” They also suggested that the study shows that science needs to be more mindful of “a biopsychosocial model of disease.” This model acknowledges that biological and psychological factors contribute to diseases such as MS.

Immune B Cells May harmMyelin-MakingCells

Researchers have found evidence that immune cells known as B cells from people with MS may produce toxic factors that harm brain cells, in particular, cells that make myelin, the key substance needed for nerve transmission. If these factors can be identified and confirmed to play a role in MS disease progression, it may serve as an important target for developing new MS therapies. In the future, it may also become possible to stimulate B cells to turn off the production of this toxic factor in people with MS.

FDA update Addresses seizureriskforThoseTakingampyra

On July 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a Drug Safety Communication to address the risk of seizures in people with MS who are starting

Ampyra (dalfampridine, Acorda Therapeutics). Ampyra was approved in January 2010 to improve walking in people with multiple sclerosis. Seizures are a known side effect of Ampyra and seizure risk increases with higher blood levels of the drug.

Based on its evaluation of post-marketing reports of seizures occurring in people with MS on the therapy, the FDA is updating prescribing information for Ampyra. The update advises that kidney function should be checked before starting Ampyra and monitored at least annually, because impaired kidney function can result in high blood levels of the drug.

The FDA also emphasized that patients who miss a dose should not take extra doses, since an extra dose of Ampyra can increase seizure risk. In an evaluation of adverse event reports, most of the seizures happened within days to weeks after starting the recommended dose and occurred in patients having no history of seizures. Most of those who experienced seizure were at least 50 years old and were at risk for mild, age-related kidney impairment.

The FDA communication noted that “potential benefits of Ampyra treatment must therefore be carefully considered against the potential risk of seizures before using Ampyra in patients with mild renal impairment.”

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