Manitoba Has High Rate of MS
Did you know that Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the world? In Manitoba, the incidence has increased steadily since 1984, with the province seeing the third-highest rate of MS in the country.
An estimated 90,000 Canadians are living with the disease, and on average, 12 Canadians are diagnosed each day. Globally, nearly 3 million people suffer from this debilitating neurological condition, 75% of whom are women.
MS is characterized by the immune system mistakenly attacking the protective covering of nerve fibres within the central nervous system – myelin – leading to a communication breakdown between the brain and the rest of the body. This disruption results in a wide range of symptoms that can vary significantly from person to person. While some only have mild symptoms, others may suffer from loss of vision and impaired mobility, sensation and balance, with increased disability over time.
Typically diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40, MS affects individuals during their prime years, disrupting careers, relationships and overall quality of life.
Now, to facilitate a giant leap in understanding the disease's underlying mechanisms and advancing potential avenues for prevention and treatment, Tel Aviv University (TAU) is seeking funding to establish a dedicated Multiple Sclerosis Centre. Once funded, the proposed Centre would leverage the university's expertise, robust multidisciplinary culture, state-of-the-art facilities, and strong hospital ties to bring about significant advances that could ease suffering and enhance the quality of life of individuals suffering from MS.
"The proposed Multiple Sclerosis Centre represents a critical opportunity in our fight against this devastating disease," says Stephen Adler, Executive Director of Tel Aviv University Canada. "With adequate funding, we can combine TAU's multidisciplinary expertise with cutting-edge AI technologies to create a unique ecosystem where scientific discovery can rapidly translate into life-changing treatments. This initiative demonstrates our commitment to addressing health challenges that affect not only Israelis but also communities across Canada, where MS rates are particularly concerning. We're actively seeking partners who share our vision to make this Centre a reality."
TAU: A Global Leader in Neurodegenerative Disease Research
TAU is primed to drive this crucial research. Home to Israel's largest concentration of scientists investigating all aspects of brain science, including severe and debilitating neurodegenerative diseases such as MS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, the university boasts 150 labs across the campus, including at the Faculty of Medicine, the Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, the Sagol School of Neuroscience, and the School of Psychological Sciences.
A key TAU strength is its ongoing, robust collaborative ties between campus-based scientists and their clinical colleagues at TAU-affiliated hospitals. These include two of Israel's major medical centers—Sheba Medical Center and Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center—which serve nearly half of the country's population. These close ties would ensure that research conducted in the proposed Centre has every opportunity to be translated into real-world therapies and technologies.
Key Goals and Research of the Proposed MS Centre
If established, the proposed Centre would focus on boosting Research and Development, increasing the chances of translating research findings into clinical practice and training the next generation of scientists and clinicians to lead and shape future MS research and treatment.
The research directions of the planned Centre would be holistic and multidisciplinary. They would encompass:
- Leveraging neuro-imaging techniques to evaluate MS treatments better
- Identifying novel molecular and cellular targets in MS to stop disease progression, develop new drug targets, and restore lost functions
- Exploring the connection between MS and other auto-immune diseases
- Developing personalized intervention programs to enhance cognition in MS
- Investigating physiotherapy-based methods to alleviate pain in MS patients
Using AI to Revolutionize MS Research
Additionally, the proposed Centre would incorporate novel AI techniques to tackle MS. AI offers significant potential for facilitating groundbreaking discoveries in this devastating disease. The planned Centre would strongly emphasize using AI to advance research, diagnosis, treatment, and teaching.
According to Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie, MD, PhD, FRCPC, FCAHS, Director, Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg, "Some of the most difficult symptoms for people with multiple sclerosis are largely invisible. It can be tough when someone says, 'You look great!' but inside, everything hurts – it was a struggle to get out of bed
, and I'm still exhausted from the shower I took. People may not fully appreciate how hard it is for someone with MS to get through the day."- source: https://sharedhealthmb.ca/news/
