It announced funding over the next three years of 13 innovative research projects and more than 30 research scholarships. Five of the research projects are targeted at finding ways to repair and regrow myelin, the part of the body that is damaged by MS attacks.
Myelin surrounds and protects nerve fibres in the central nervous system.
The immune system probably sets off the attack on myelin. Four of the projects are seeking ways to understand immune cells better to limit or prevent the damage they cause. Trevor Owens and Sylvie Fournier, Montreal Neurological Institute. Wayne Moore, Donald Paty, Stanley Hashimoto, David Li, Robert Nugent and Alex MacKay, University of British Columbia. One grant was awarded in the health research area to examine quality of life issues following the MS diagnosis.