Myelin Repair Foundation Announces Collaborative Research Initiative Aims to Cut Drug Development Time in Half.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers SARATOGA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 20, 2004 The Myelin myelin /my·elin/ (mi´e-lin) the lipid-rich substance of the cell membrane of Schwann cells that coils to form the myelin sheath surrounding the axon of myelinated nerve fibers. Repair Foundation (MRF MRF Markov Random Field MRF Material Recovery Facility MRF Materials Recycling Facility MRF Motorcycle Riders Foundation MRF Medium Range Forecast (weather forecasting model) MRF Movement for Rights and Freedoms ), a Saratoga, Calif.-based non-profit research foundation, today announced the formation of a consortium of five of the world's leading scientists in myelin research. By providing the funding, as well as the business and technology infrastructure to support the collaboration, the Myelin Repair Foundation expects to accelerate the research process and deliver targets for palliative treatments for people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in five years. Dr. Ben Barres Ben A. Barres M.D., Ph.D. is an American neurobiologist who teaches at Stanford University. He is currently Associate Chair of the Neurobiology department at Stanford University School of Medicine. , Professor of Developmental Biology Developmental biology A large field of investigation that includes the study of all changes associated with an organism as it progresses through the life cycle. The life cycles of all multicellular organisms exhibit many similarities. and Neurobiology Neurobiology Study of the development and function of the nervous system, with emphasis on how nerve cells generate and control behavior. The major goal of neurobiology is to explain at the molecular level how nerve cells differentiate and develop their at Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford University School of Medicine is affiliated with Stanford University and is located at Stanford University Medical Center in Stanford, California, adjacent to Palo Alto and Menlo Park. ; Dr. David Colman, Director and Penfield Professor at the Montreal Neurological Institute Founded in 1934 by Dr. Wilder Penfield with a $1.2 million grant from the Rockefeller Foundation of New York and the support of the government of Quebec, the city of Montreal, and private donors, the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University McGill University, at Montreal, Que., Canada; coeducational; chartered 1821, opened 1829. It was named for James McGill, who left a bequest to establish it. Its real development dates from 1855 when John W. Dawson became principal. ; Dr. Robert Miller, Professor of Neurosciences at Case Western Reserve University; Dr. Stephen Miller
Stephen Miller (January 17, 1816 – August 18, 1881) was an American Republican politician. , Professor of Microbiology-Immunology at Northwestern University; and Dr. Brian Popko, Professor of Neurology at the University of Chicago, have agreed to a collaborative research plan that links the research activities of these five major university laboratories in conducting the most advanced research on various aspects of myelin -- the protective coating surrounding the nerve fibers of the brain and spinal cord spinal cord, the part of the nervous system occupying the hollow interior (vertebral canal) of the series of vertebrae that form the spinal column, technically known as the vertebral column. . This innovative approach to medical research breaks down traditional barriers to collaboration between labs, and provides for business and scientific oversight boards to guide research toward successful results. To underwrite this initiative and achieve success in the development of MS treatments, MRF intends to raise a total of $25 million over the next four years. "Medical research experts, like top scientists in all areas of high technology, must focus very narrowly," said Scott Johnson, President and Founder of MRF. "But this kind of siloing is a distinct disadvantage when it comes to complex diseases like MS. To solve multifaceted problems requires coordination among the most accomplished specialists in multiple disciplines. That collaboration between disciplines is what MRF is about," Johnson continued. "We are honored and grateful to these prestigious scientists for their enthusiasm and commitment to this important project." About the Myelin Repair Foundation The Myelin Repair Foundation (MRF) is a Northern California-based, non-profit research foundation created to provide a supportive environment in which leading research scientists at multiple universities and experienced business executives can work together to execute a five year research plan -- with milestones, parallel experiments, collaboration, and, most important, a constant focus on developing effective treatments for Multiple Sclerosis. Guided by the best practices for building and growing a for-profit company, MRF has created a unique partnership between academic researchers, scientists, and business executives to define an integrated research plan, provide ongoing funding, and coordinate research efforts for maximum productivity. About Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Myelin Repair MS is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system that affects more than 2.5 million people worldwide. The breaking down of myelin, the protective coating surrounding the nerve fibers of the brain and spinal cord, and the body's inability to repair it, are the result of such central nervous system diseases as MS. By combining their research efforts, MRF scientists expect to develop viable drug targets that restore the body's natural ability to repair myelin, reversing the effects of MS. For a quote sheet and more detailed information on -- MRF's business strategy -- MRF principal investigators -- Myelin repair Visit the Myelin Repair Foundation's Newsroom at http://www.myelinrepair.org/newsroom. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion