Grant: Operating Grant

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most prevalent diseases of the central nervous system, affecting over two million people worldwide. Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world with up to 75,000 Canadians estimated to be living with this disease. The annual cost of patient care has been estimated between $30,836 and $77,981 depending on the severity of disease, resulting in an annual cost to Canada's health care system of $2.3-5.8 billion. MS symptoms vary widely and may affect vision, hearing, cognition, balance, and movement; resulting in a reduction in quality of life and ability to work. To date there is no cure for MS. Although treatments to effectively manage the clinical symptoms exist, they present several serious or even life-threatening adverse effects and currently, the progressive phase of the disease cannot be prevented. MS was originally considered an autoimmune disease triggered by exposure to environmental agents but family and twin studies have clearly demonstrated the existence of an important genetic component to the disease. The application of new gene sequencing technologies will facilitate the identification of biologically important genetic variants, and disease-causing mutations for familial MS. The identification of each gene and mutation helps implicate a biological network(s) in disease, provides the targets and tools to model its pathogenesis, and enables therapeutic advance. More efficacious drugs, which provide symptomatic benefit by halting disease progression, may cure this common disease. Our translational research will improve the quality of life for Canadians living with MS and reduce the burden of this disease on society.