A new research partnership with NIAID. (National MS Society News).What role does a person's gender play in MS? The National MS Society is now collaborating with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Infectious disease A pathological condition spread among biological species. Infectious diseases, although varied in their effects, are always associated with viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, multicellular parasites and aberrant proteins known as prions. (NIAID NIAID National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. ) and other National Institutes of Health agencies to provide up to $20 million to study just that--why, for instance, more women than men get MS, and why when men do get MS, it's more often later in life. This is the first time the federal agency has entered into a formal agreement to collaborate. Autoimmune diseases--in which the immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues--include lupus lupus (l  `pəs), noninfectious chronic disease in which antibodies in an individual's immune system attack the body's own substances. and arthritis, and, most
likely, MS. Not only do these diseases disproportionately affect women,
but many are more likely to appear after puberty puberty (py`bərtē), period during which the onset of sexual maturity occurs. , suggesting a possible
link to sex hormones.
The National MS Society's Initiative on Gender Differences of MS is currently targeting research funds to obtain some answers. Now, with a powerful federal partner, more can be learned about how the biology of sex affects immune responses, and how these responses lead to different dynamics in MS in men and women. The commitment During the first year of this effort, $4.5 million will be given to gender-based research of autoimmune diseases Autoimmune diseases A group of diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, in which immune cells turn on the body, attacking various tissues and organs. Mentioned in: Complement Deficiencies, Premature Menopause such as MS. The Society will contribute up to $1 million. Over the course of the agreement, $20 million will be targeted to gender-based research, with the Society contributing up to $4 million of the total. |
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