Dear Editor
Over the past several months, there has been a great deal of media coverage on chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and multiple sclerosis.
Since Dr. Paolo Zamboni's much-publicized report in November 2009 of a potential link between blood flow and MS, Canadians, various levels of government and the MS Society have responded with an unprecedented outpouring of support for the people whose lives have been altered by MS.
The MS Society immediately announced the availability of research funding for this exciting area. Since that time, our society has strongly advocated for rapid and responsible research.
By June 2010, $2.4 million had been jointly committed by the MS Society of Canada and the National MS Society in the United States to support seven research projects focusing on CCSVI and its relationship to MS. One of these core projects is the diagnostic work of Dr. Katherine Knox in Saskatchewan.
Sept. 16, the MS Society of Canada reserved additional CCSVI-related funds of $1 million for a pan-Canadian therapeutic clinical trial. These funds will help speed up the research when a clinical trial is developed and approved.
The MS Society hopes that the diagnostic and clinical projects will allow Canada to advance the speed of research and allow scientists to clarify outstanding questions relating to CCSVI at an even faster pace. Our society has high hopes we can rapidly and efficiently establish the usefulness of this promising option, so the health care system can begin providing appropriate treatment.
Further, the MS Society applauds the Saskatchewan government's interest in advancing CCSVI and MS research. We are all committed to finding out answers to the many questions around CCSVI as safely, quickly and efficiently as possible.
The MS Society of Canada is committed to ending MS. The society's Saskatchewan division board is made up of dedicated volunteers, many of whom have multiple sclerosis, and the rest being people who are primary caregivers to people with MS, or other members who give their time to end MS.
In addition to CCSVI, the Saskatchewan division raises funds to support a number of other avenues of research, such as partnership in the establishment of a permanent MS clinical research chair at the college of medicine at the University of Saskatchewan.
Having such a position in place locally will further the ability to conduct collaborative studies right here in our province and will ensure Saskatchewan's leadership role in MS research and ultimately in ending MS.
Jack Aldcorn
President, Saskatchewan Division MS Society of Canada
