The Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis (ACP) and the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MIND) launched the Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Forum (MSDF), an interactive virtual community and information portal that connects and educates investigators who study MS and other demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system, including transverse myelitis, neuromyelitis optica, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.
“Many important advances have been made in recent years toward bringing new therapies to people with MS, but we still have a long way to go before we can celebrate a cure for the disease,” said Robert McBurney, president and chief executive officer of ACP. “The Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Forum will shorten that path by creating an open research environment that fosters the generation and exchange of novel ideas about the causes, mechanisms, and potential cures for MS. We anticipate that the site will catalyze connections across disciplines that help accelerate us toward a cure.”
The Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Forum provides a neutral venue where members of the MS research community can learn about cutting-edge findings and their significance through original articles by top-flight science writers; participate in peer-hosted discussion forums and webinars; access professional and research resources such as a custom drug-pipeline database and the MSGene database of MS genetic association studies; share and receive feedback from other researchers on study findings and key learnings; and collaborate with researchers from other organizations on opportunities for translational research.
“MS researchers face a daunting task as they strive to keep up with discoveries in their own area of expertise, never mind other disciplines,” said MSDF scientific adviser Richard M. Ransohoff, director of the Neuroinflammation Research Center and staff neurologist at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research, both at the Cleveland Clinic. “The sheer scope of MS research, from immunology to neuroscience to genetics to epidemiology to imaging, entails more raw literature than anyone can absorb. Furthermore, many research communities are siloed and don’t effectively communicate to others. Through the Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Forum, this data sharing becomes easier. Information about new findings and resources, accessible on a single site, will spur innovative ideas and speed progress. Knowledge sharing at scientific conferences can now continue online and will engage the broader community, allowing MS researchers to untangle the causes of this often-devastating illness and develop therapeutic compounds and strategies.”
“Scientific social media are emerging as a new way to help enhance the efficiency of research and generate new approaches to medical challenges,” said Tim Clark, director of Informatics at the Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MIND). “Our joint effort with ACP to create the Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Forum has provided a platform that will build knowledge and inspire new and fruitful scientific collaborations.”
Release date: April 17, 2012
