Podcasts about mellen center

This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by EMD Serono and is only intended for a U.S. audience. EMD Serono is the healthcare business of Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the United States and Canada. In this special episode of RealTalk MS, Dr. Mary Rensel and Amanda Montague join me to explore HCP (Healthcare Provider) burnout and patient empowerment; and we'll be taking a close look at how patients and their healthcare providers can work together to support one another. Dr. Mary Rensel is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Director of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Wellness at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis at the Cleveland Clinic. Amanda Montague is a global thought leader and Chief Mission Officer at the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. Amanda is also an active member of the MS in the 21st Century initiative, more commonly known as MS21. MS21 is a Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, initiative involving healthcare professionals, or HCPs, and patient advocates. To learn more about MS in the 21st Century, please visit www.msinthe21stcentury.com.

We've reached a moment in time when it seems impossible to avoid at least some level of stress in our lives.  We also know that stress has been shown to make MS symptoms worse and even trigger relapses. We can't eliminate all the stress in our lives, so learning how to manage and minimize stress is an important part of living well with MS. This week, Dr. Grace Tworek, a Clinical Health Psychologist at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis at the Cleveland Clinic, joins me to talk about best practices when it comes to managing stress when you're living with MS.  We're also sharing details about the $649,000 grant made by the National MS Society to support the development of an experimental remyelination treatment. If MS is detected early -- before an individual experiences even a single symptom -- and that individual is treated aggressively with a high-efficacy disease-modifying therapy, could that individual lead a life without experiencing any symptoms of MS? We'll tell you how that scenario is playing out right now. We'll tell you about research that revealed differences in the connections between nerve cells in the brain based upon biological sex. And we'll share survey results that show people with MS may be so embarrassed about some of their symptoms that they aren't discussing them with their care team. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! The complexity of the human brain  :22 This Week: Managing stress when you're living with MS  2:08 National MS Society invests $649,000 in experimental remyelination treatment  2:57 Stopping MS before symptoms start  4:32 Study shows that connections between nerve cells vary by biological sex  6:30 Are people with MS too embarrassed to discuss some of their symptoms with their care team?  8:31 Dr. Grace Tworek discusses strategies to manage stress when you're affected by MS  11:44 Share this episode  27:27 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app?  27:47 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/351 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com A Browsable Petascale Reconstruction of Human Cortex https://h01-release.storage.googleapis.com/landing.html STUDY: Deep Learning with Diffusion MRI as In Vivo Microscope Reveals Sex-Related Differences in Human White Matter Microstructure https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-60340-y Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200 Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Deviceshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 351 Guests: Dr. Grace Tworek Privacy Policy  

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a powerful tool to help enhance our understanding of MS disease processes, improve our diagnostic accuracy, better predict disease course, and identify optimal treatments. How is AI being used in MS research currently and what may it be able to do in the future? Host Alan Thompson, Editor in Chief of MS Journal, talks with Arman Eshaghi of the Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, and Daniel Ontaneda of the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute's Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis in the United States.

Daniel Ontaneda, MD, PhD, FAAN, is a staff neurologist and Director of Research for the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis, part of the Neurological Institute at Cleveland Clinic. Join them as they discuss the misdiagnosis of MS, gaps in current diagnostic criteria, and how artificial intelligence could be used to aid diagnostic accuracy. Join the conversation on our MS forums: www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/forums/ Follow us on social media: Instagram - www.instagram.com/msnewstoday/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/multiplesclerosisnewstoday Twitter - www.twitter.com/msnewstoday For more news on Multiple Sclerosis visit: www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/

With more than 9,000 MS researchers and clinicians in attendance, the 2023 combined ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS meeting in Milan was the largest MS research conference in the world. During the meeting, I had an opportunity to talk with some of the best and brightest minds in MS research and clinical practice. This is your invitation to listen in on my ECTRIMS EXTRA conversation with Dr. Daniel Ontaneda.  Dr. Ontaneda is a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute's Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis and, while attending the ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS meeting, Dr. Ontaneda co-chaired a scientific session on artificial intelligence in MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/ectrims2304 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200 Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Deviceshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS ECTRIMS Extra with Dr. Daniel Ontaneda Guest: Dr. Daniel Ontaneda Privacy Policy

In this episode of the Neurophilia Podcast, we sat down with two experts in the field of neuroimmunology, Drs. Suma Shah and Alissa Willis, and discuss their journeys into medicine as well as the unique privileges and challenges of a neuroimmunologist. Also, we highlighted the gender gaps in academic neurology and shared ways to promote women in leadership. If you want to learn more about neuroimmunology, women in academic neurology, or Drs. Shah and Willis' go-to comfort meals, make sure you listen to the full episode and leave us a review!Dr. Suma Shah is a fellowship-trained MS Specialist and Associate Professor of Neurology at Duke University School of Medicine. She serves as the Co-Associate Director of Clinical Care, MSCoE East, the Regional Director of the Regional MS Center of Excellence for the Durham VA, and the Program Director of the Duke Adult Neurology Residency Program.  Dr. Shah is actively involved in Duke Neurology's educational mission teaching and mentoring multiple learners and trainees.  She has been honored with teaching awards including the Golden Apple Teaching Award (2015), the E Wayne Massey Residency Teaching Award (2017), and the annual Duke Neurology Faculty Teaching Award (2021, 2022).Dr. Mary Alissa Willis is a clinician-educator passionate about multiple sclerosis and making neurology relevant and interesting for all trainees.  She has received numerous teaching awards including Alpha Omega Alpha Teacher of the Year and the AB Baker teacher recognition award from the AAN. After serving as Associate Residency Program Director and Medical Director of the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Willis returned home to Mississippi as chair of the department of neurology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.Follow the Neurophilia Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @NeurophiliaPodFollow Dr. Suma Shah on Twitter @sumadshahFollow Dr. Alissa Willis on Twitter @myelinMDFollow Dr. Nupur Goel on Twitter @mdgoelsFollow Dr. Blake Buletko on Twitter @blakebuletkoSupport the show

In this episode, Brian talks with Dr. Amy Sullivan about resilience and how chronic illness impacts mental health.In her role as an Associate Professor of Medicine and, the Director of Behavioral Medicine & Research at the Mellen Center for MS, Director of the Neurological Institute Engagement and Wellbeing, Dr. Sullivan works with patients and families dealing with the impact of illness. She has also become a leading voice in physician and caregiver self-care, burnout, and psychological health and spearheaded Mellen Center's efforts that led to the National Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award, Best Practice by the American Psychological Association.ABOUT US:The Demystifying NMO and MOG podcast is a project of the Sumaira Foundation (TSF) and was made possible with the generous support of Genentech.STAY CONNECTED:Amy Sullivan, PsyD, ABPPWebsite - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/staff/13526-amy-sullivanTwitter - https://twitter.com/DrAmyBSullivanDemystifying NMO podcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/demystifying_nmomogTwitter - https://twitter.com/DemystifyingNMOThe Sumaira FoundationWebsite - https://www.sumairafoundation.orgFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheSumairaFoundationTIMESTAMPS/TOPICS:00:01:25 Dr. Amy Sullivan00:01:49 What is Resilience?00:03:52 Where Does Resilience Come From?00:10:21 Resilience Fatigue00:12:23 The Grieving Process in Chronic Illness00:15:00 How to Center Yourself00:16:33 Wellness00:18:47 Motivation00:19:56 Asking for Help00:20:27 Caring for Caregivers & Breaking Down StigmasCREDITS:Host - Brian DawsonMusic - Denys Kyshchuk from PixabayGuest Photo - Cleveland Clinic

Send us a Text Message."There's no other me out there. I can learn things from everybody, but there's not the one person I can model for exactly what means something to me, what I'm good at, and what interests me." -Dr. Mary Rensel, MDOften we find ourselves trying to emulate others, and not tapping into our own creativity or our 'inner power'.  We are creative beings (humans). At times, we lack self belief, and it is run over by self doubt.  What if we could cultivate the belief in self?What if we could build an answer or solution to a larger problem?Small dents, from multiple individuals, can make a crater!I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Mary Rensel, MD, physician and creator of Brain Fresh LLC,  a neuroscience based professional development  support system.  She spoke about her innovation and inspiration behind Brain Fresh, as well as her peaks and valleys through her medical career.Discussed in this episode:Peaks and valleys in life.Different things worked at different times in career and home life.Prioritize.  Your own needs are important.Doing things of interest and that you love.Innovation/creating can be inspirational.  Sometimes things get stagnant.We are not always in the growth zone.There are some things that are non-negotiableEnsuring family, spiritual, health, work were balanced.Burnout has been around since 1970s.  going up and up.Earn CME:This experience is powered by CMEfy – an AI-powered platform that directs learners along a pathway to capture reflections at point of inspiration, point of care. Clinicians may earn CME/CE credit via ReflectCE, the accredited activity portal. https://earnc.me/N09rlZConnect with Dr. Mary RenselMary Rensel, MD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Director of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Wellness at the Mellen Center of the Cleveland Clinic. She has graduated from the Medical College of Ohio and completed her Neurology and Neuro-immunology fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic. She is boarded in Neurology and Integrative Medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Rensel's work has focused on Adult and Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis, Brain health and Integrative Medicine. Her work in academic medicine often intersects with wellness, advocacy, innovation, coaching and strategic initiatives. She is a “Best Doctor” of Cleveland since 2010 per the Cleveland Magazine.  She is the owner of Brain Fresh, a neuroscience based professional development  support system. Though I am a physician, this is not medical advice. This is only a tool that physicians can use to get ideas on how to deal with burnout and/or know they are not alone. If you are in need of medical assistance talk to your physician.Learn more about female physicians' journey through burnout to thriving!https://www.theworthyphysician.com/booksLet's connect for speaking opportunities!https://www.theworthyphysician.com/dr-shahhaque-md-as-a-speakerCheck out the free resources from The Worthy Physician:https://www.theworthyphysician.com/freebie-downloadsBattle of the Boxes21 Day Self Focus Journal

Dr Mary Rensel, MD, is the founder of Brain Fresh, a brain-based time management system for busy professional women for enhanced joy and peace.She is co-founder of Brain Ops Group, a group focused on optimizing brain performance to achieve better business outcomes. She is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Director of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Wellness of the Mellen Center of the Cleveland Clinic.She graduated from the Medical College of Ohio and completed her Neuroimmunology fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic.  She is board-certified in both Neurology and Integrative Medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.Dr. Rensel's work has focused on Adult and Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis, Brain Health and Integrative Medicine.  Her work in academic medicine often intersects with wellness, advocacy, innovation, entrepreneurship and strategic initiatives. She has been the "Best Doctor" in Cleveland since 2010 as per the Cleveland Magazine. She is the Past President of the Women's Professional Staff Association of the Cleveland Clinic. She is active as an Advanced Peer Coach, mentor, scientific reviewer, clinical researcher, activity director, book editor, entrepreneur and national speaker. She has appeared on numerous media outlets including Good Morning America.In this episode, Dr Rensel and I chat about:Her leadership roles Her leadership style Her leadership journey The leaders that helped her rise The challenges she faced on her journey How she navigated those challenges How she thinks you can become a strong and kind leader Her 'take home' leadership messages for the listeners, and What she is currently excited to be working on.Dr Rensel can be contacted via Dr.MaryRensel@gmail.com and her social media links can be found on Linktree - https://linktr.ee/Dr.MaryRensel Please reach out to Dr Harrison for individual coaching and/or organisational training via dr.adam@coachingmentoringdoctors.com.His web address and social media profile links / handles include:www.dradamharrison.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dradamharrison/www.youtube.com/c/DrAdamPhysicianCoachhttps://www.facebook.com/coachingmentoringdoctors/https://www.instagram.com/dradamharrison/https://www.tiktok.com/@physiciancoach

Welcome to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice. In this episode, we spoke with a number of experts in the clinical care of MS who were in attendance at the 2022 ECTRIMS Congress, including Darin T. Okuda, MD, FAAN, FANA, director of Neuroinnovation and Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Imaging Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center; Federica Picariello, PhD, a health psychologist and postgraduate research associate at King's College London; Brenda Banwell, MD, chief of the Division of Neurology and codirector of the Neuroscience Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Riley Bove, MD, associate professor of neurology, University of California, San Francisco; Tomas Kalincik, MD, PhD, Dame Kate Campbell Professorial Fellow, head of the Clinical Outcomes Research Unit at the University of Melbourne, and head of the MS Centre at the Royal Melbourne Hospital; and Marisa McGinley, DO, a neurologist at the Mellen Center for MS at Cleveland Clinic. Click here for more coverage of ECTRIMS 2022. Episode Breakdown: 1:15 – Darin Okuda, MD, on the implications of the ARISE data in RIS 5:50 – Federica Picariello, PhD, on addressing fatigue and its mechanisms 10:40 – Brenda Banwell, MD, on advances in pediatric-onset MS 16:05 – Riley Bove, MD, on treatment NMOSD in pregnancy and post partum 21:30 – Tomas Kalincik, MD, PhD, on stem cell transplantation in MS 27:00 – Marisa McGinley, DO, on the optimal experience of teleneurology This episode is brought to you by the Medical World News streaming service. Check out new content and shows every day, only at medicalworldnews.com Thanks for listening to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. To support the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. For more neurology news and expert-driven content, visit neurologylive.com.

Our brains are busy all day monitoring our bodies and balancing our thoughts. In order to care for this complex, powerhouse organ, we need to give it extra layers of support. “Nourish your mind, nourish the world,” as today's guest, Dr. Mary Rensel likes to say.   Dr. Rensel is both the Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Cleveland Clinic and Director of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Wellness at the Mellen Center of Cleveland Clinic. She is board certified in neurology and integrative medicine and continues to be voted via Cleveland Magazine as "Best Doctor" in Cleveland since 2010. Dr. Rensel shares strategies for nourishing our brain with simple, extra layers of support each day and why this is so needed. We also delve into how to harness creativity through our brains, the benefits of deep breathing and how intentional breaks boost long-term brain function. Dr. Rensel and I would love to know how you are supporting and nourishing your brain today. Share today's episode on Instagram and be sure to tag us - @the_brain_fresh and @whitneywoman! Here's what to look forward to in today's episode: -Why we need to give our brains additional support each day and some of Dr. Rensel's favorite ways to give that support -Situations and states that are good for your brain -What happens in our brain when we enter flow state -Ways to intentionally harness creativity -Benefits of deep breathing and intentional breaks for better brain function -Advice for an aging brain -Why doing something new is so good for our brains -Areas of brain research that are catching Dr. Rensel's attention   Connect with Dr. Rensel:   IG: @the_brain_fresh   Website: https://linktr.ee/Dr.MaryRensel Connect with Whitney:   IG: @Whitneywoman   Website: www.myelectricideas.com

Amy Sullivan works at the Cleveland Clinic's Mellen Center for MS, where her research is focused on multiple sclerosis, depression, mood disorders, and psychotherapy. She is passionate about identifying the prevalence of mood disorders in people with MS and finding ways to improve their quality of life. Listen in as they discuss the prevalence of depression and anxiety in those with MS, how to eradicate the stigma around mental health, and the methodology behind the Cleveland Clinic's multiple sclerosis mental health program. Join the conversation on our MS forums: www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/forums/ Follow us on social media: Instagram - www.instagram.com/msnewstoday/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/multiplesclerosisnewstoday/ Twitter - www.twitter.com/msnewstoday For more news on Multiple Sclerosis visit: www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/

Is it true that a significant number of patients being treated for MS may not actually have the disease? What are the red flags — warnings that something about the patient's condition does not meet the accepted MS diagnostic criteria — that need to be investigated? Join us in this eMultipleSclerosis Review podcast, as Neuroimmunologist Dr. Gabrielle Macaron from Saint Joseph University's Hotel Dieu de France Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, and the Cleveland Clinic's Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis, explains strategies to reduce misdiagnosis of MS. Take our post-test to claim CME credits.To read a companion newsletter click here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is it true that a significant number of patients being treated for MS may not actually have the disease? What are the red flags — warnings that something about the patient's condition does not meet the accepted MS diagnostic criteria — that need to be investigated? Join us in this eMultipleSclerosis Review podcast, as Neuroimmunologist Dr. Gabrielle Macaron from Saint Joseph University's Hotel Dieu de France Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, and the Cleveland Clinic's Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis, explains strategies to reduce misdiagnosis of MS. Take our post-test to claim CME credits.To read a companion newsletter click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTINUING EDUCATION If you are a psychologist and want CE credits for listening this episode, click on this link: https://learn.findempathy.com/courses/MS-therapy To find out more about our courses visit: FindEmpathy.com/learn. Learning Objectives: Identify the difference between the “normal” frustrations of living with a challenging condition like MS and a mental health diagnosis. Identify at least two psychotherapeutic strategies (e.g., CBT, ACT, DBT, etc.) that work well for people living with MS. Identify at least three everyday skills that a person living with MS can use to challenge unhelpful thoughts, calm strong emotions, or provide self-comfort and empathy when grieving. PODCAST SUMMARY Up to half of individuals living with MS will experience symptoms of depression, in episode 5 we discussed medical approaches to mood, and looking out for serious symptoms like suicidal thoughts. However, not every bad mood is depression. In this episode we will learn the difference between a diagnosable mental health condition and normal fluctuations in mood. We will also discuss how grief shows up for people living with MS, and how that differs from depression. We will also focus attention on topics such as resilience, healthy coping, and psychotherapeutic or behavioral strategies for managing uncomfortable emotions. Our Experts: Jennifer Powell - Director of Community Engagement for BioNews, Columnist with Multiple Sclerosis News Today - Silver Linings, Host of The Multiple Sclerosis Podcast Amy Sullivan, PsyD, ABPP - Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic Victoria M. Leavitt, PhD, FAAN - Researcher and Clinician at Columbia University. She's also the founder of eSupport Health. COST Listening, reading, or watching the course content is free. Pay only if you need the continuing education credits. This course costs $25 and provides 1.25 CE credits CE APPROVALS PSYCHOLOGISTS Empathie, LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Empathie, LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content. SOCIAL WORKERS Find Empathy, #1817, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Find Empathy maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 06/14/2022 – 06

THERE IS AN AUDIO issue but we decided to put it out because the information is so good! Excited to talk about multiple sclerosis (MS) with Dr. Rensel. MS is a disease that impacts the brain and spinal cord which make up the central nervous system and controls everything we do. Some estimates indicated that nearly 1M adults in the US have MS so this is one reason, we wanted to learn more from an expert. Mary Rensel, MD is an owner of Brain Fresh, a Coach Tool Kit based on brain based research. She is co-owner of Brain Ops Group, a group focused on optimizing brain performance to achieve better business outcomes. She is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Director of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Wellness of the Mellen Center of the Cleveland Clinic. She has graduated from the Medical College of Ohio and completed her Neuroimmunology fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic. She is boarded in Neurology and Integrative Medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Rensel's work has focused on Adult and Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis, Brain Health and Integrative Medicine. Her work in academic medicine often intersects with wellness, advocacy, innovation, entrepreneurship and strategic initiatives. She is the "Best Doctor" of Cleveland since 2010 per the Cleveland Magazine. She is the Past President of the Women's Professional Staff Association of the Cleveland Clinic. She is active as an Advanced Peer Coach, mentor, scientific reviewer, clinical researcher, activity director, book editor, entrepreneur and national speaker. She has appeared on numerous media outlets including Good Morning America. Connect with Dr. Rensel Websites: https://www.brainopsgroup.com https://www.brainfresh.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.rensel.9 Twitter @MRenselMD www.linkedin.com/in/mary-rensel-94844b1a --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urcaringdocs/message

Mary Rensel, MD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Director of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Wellness at the Mellen Center of the Cleveland Clinic. She has graduated from the Medical College of Ohio and completed herNeurology and Neuro-immunology fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic.  She is boarded in Neurology and Integrative Medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Rensel's work has focused on Adult and Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis, Brain health and Integrative Medicine. Her work in academic medicine often intersects with wellness, advocacy, innovation and strategic initiatives. She serves on the International Pediatric MS Study Group and is on the steering committee of the National Network of Pediatric MS Centers. She is a “Best Doctor” of Cleveland since 2010 per the Cleveland Magazine. She can be found at https://www.brainopsgroup.com/ She is the President of the Women's Professional Staff Association of the Cleveland Clinic. She is active as a coach, mentor, scientific reviewer, clinical researcher, activity director and speaks nationally. She has also appeared on numerous media outlets, including a spot on Good Morning America.

Interested in improving MS care? Participating in a clinical trial may have personal advantages and help others in the future. Trial design discussed including whether or not a placebo (no treatment) will be used. Criteria needed to enroll in a clinical study called inclusion and exclusion criteria explained. Key elements of clinical trials outlined including multiple safety measures and informed consent. Current clinical trials in multiple sclerosis are covered including using highly effective treatment early for someone living with multiple sclerosis. Current studies in progressive MS and remyelination shared. Compounds highlighted include BTK inhibitors, masitinib, ibudilast, simvastatin and gold nanocrystals. Barry Singer MD, Director of The MS Center for Innovations in Care, interviews: Jiwon Oh MD PhD is the Director of the BARLO MS Centre at St. Micheal's Hospital in Toronto. She is an Associate Professor of Neurology University of Toronto. Dr. Oh's research focuses on developing advanced imaging techniques of the spinal cord and brain for use in clinical settings. She is the principal investigator on local and collaborative, multi-center MRI studies. Dr. Oh is the lead of the Canadian National Progression Cohort, which is focused on better understanding progression in MS. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto and medical school from Queen's University. Dr. Oh completed her residency at the University of Toronto, PhD in Public Health at John Hopkins and neuroimmunology fellowship at John Hopkins. Robert Bermel MD is a neurologist specializing in multiple sclerosis at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Cleveland Clinic. He received a medical degree with thesis honors from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Bermel completed his neurology residency training and served as Chief Resident at Cleveland Clinic. He was funded as a National MS Society postdoctoral fellow in clinical neuroimmunology and advanced imaging at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Bermel cares for patients, conducts imaging research, and an investigator in multiple clinical trials at the Mellen Center. His current research interests focus on the identification of advanced imaging methods to evaluate and improve recovery from inflammatory demyelinating disease. Visit www.mslivingwell.org for more information.

After reviewing evidence on the use of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, the National MS Society has concluded that aHSCT is a good treatment option for some people living with MS.  Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, the Director of the Cleveland Clinic's Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, joins me this week to share all the details about aHSCT and explain who is and who isn't an ideal candidate for this treatment. We'll also tell you about the National MS Society's mini-site that's dedicated to aHSCT.  We have more good news to share about a new category of disease-modifying therapy. There's a new study that may solve some sleep problems associated with MS. We'll tell you how you can participate! And we'll explain why it looks like the National MS Society is now part of the Marvel Universe! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! We're in the top 1.5%!!  :22 National MS Society launches stem cell therapy mini-site   1:39 Recruitment completed for Evobrutinib Phase 3 clinical trial  5:16 How you can participate in the iSleepMS study  13:53 Has the National MS Society entered the Marvel Universe???  8:05 Dr. Jeffrey Cohen discusses stem cell therapy for MS   9:49 Share this episode  31:03 Catch Episode 5 of The MS Caregiver Conundrum  31:24 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/215 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com National MS Society COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for People Living with MS https://www.nationalmssociety.org/coronavirus-covid-19-information/multiple-sclerosis-and-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-guidance National MS Society Third COVID-19 Vaccine Dose Guidance for People Living with MS https://www.nationalmssociety.org/About-the-Society/News/Additional-COVID-19-Vaccine-Dose-(Booster)-and-MS The MS Caregiver Conundrum Podcast https://mscaregiverconundrum.com National MS Society aHSCT Mini-Site https://nationalmssociety.org/aHSCT iSleepMS Online Screening Form https://tinyurl.com/iSleepMS Darkhawk Issue #2https://www.amazon.com/Darkhawk-2-5-Kyle-Higgins-ebook/dp/B097QHWVVD Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200 Download the RealTalk MS App for Androidhttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 215 Guest: Dr. Jeffrey Cohen Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, Stemcells, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

Habits & Health episode 11 with Mary Rensel and Ali Hively exploring the world of brain optimisation. They teach busy, stressed professionals brain resiliency tools to improve productivity and focus. Mary is an MD and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Director of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Wellness at the Mellen Center of the Cleveland Clinic. Ali holds a Master’s Degree in education and curriculum. She has been in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years as a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor and nutrition and wellness consultant. Full transcript of this episode is available at the link below Topics discussed include: Mari & Ali's 4-Week Biohack Your Brain Resiliency Course CLE: Connected- Lifestyle habits- Emotional processing Brain optimisation Difference in emotional reactions to this between men and women Self care and compassion Links: BrainOpsGroup.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-rensel-94844b1a/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-hively-2706baa/ Favourite quotes: Mary: "May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears" Nelson Mandela Ali: "Be strong enough to stand alone and you're doing things your way. Smart enough to know when you need help, and then brave enough to ask for it" Ziad K. Abdelnour Habits & Health links: Website - tonywinyard.com Facebook Page - facebook.com/TonyWinyard.HabitsAndHealth Facebook Group - facebook.com/groups/habitshealth Twitter - @TonyWinyard Instagram - @tony.winyard LinkedIn - uk.linkedin.com/in/tonywinyard YouTube How to leave a podcast review - tonywinyard.com/how-to-leave-a-podcast-review/ Details of online workshops to create habits for health - tonywinyard.com/training/ Are you in control of your habits or are they in control of you? Take my quiz to find out - tonywinyard.com/quiz Take part in Tony's free 5-day-programme - tonywinyard.com/tinyhabits Full shownotes including transcription available at: https://tonywinyard.com/mary-rensel-and-ali-hively/

Dr. Mary Rensel joins us to discuss brain health, brain wellness, and resiliency. We have the opportunity to thoughtfully recreate neuro pathways through health and wellness habits, and we break down the things we can do day to day to keep our brains fresh.    Dr. Rensel is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Director of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Wellness at the Mellen Center of the Cleveland Clinic. Her work has focused on Adult and Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis, Brain health and Integrative Medicine. She has been a “Best Doctor” of Cleveland since 2010 per the Cleveland Magazine. She is the owner of Brain Fresh, a Coach support system. You can find a link to Free Brain Fresh Coaching Assessment at  https://mailchi.mp/147f60096c56/free-brain-fresh-precoaching-assessment   Dr Hammerstedt and her lifestyle coaching team can be found at www.wholisthealth.com and @wholisthealth on Facebook and Instagram as well as the public facebook group Curate Your Health. Wholist helps high performing women and men lose weight for the last time, with an innovative food and mindset coaching program to blueprint YOUR optimal body and mind, with real food, real work, real results… and no products or BS. Come curate YOUR sustainable health future, and personal and professional dynasty.   And remember, Who you choose to be Matters. You are valuable, You are worth this, You are your WholeYou

In this episode we talk about multiple sclerosis (MS) and the role personalized medicine and real world data (RWD) are playing in treating this disease effectively. To discuss this topic, we sat down with one of the leading experts in this field - Dr. Rick Rudick. Rick is a neurologist by training and has more than 25 years of experience at Cleveland Clinic where he developed and directed the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis. Rick was also a Vice President of pharmaceutical company Biogen, where he developed the Multiple Sclerosis Innovation Hub and was involved in establishing international Multiple Sclerosis Partners Advancing Technology and Health Solutions (MS PATHS) program. With about 250 peer-reviewed publications, Rick is one of the most cited researchers in the field.Together with Rick we discussed:◦ Disease-modifying therapeutics for MS◦ Role of RWD & RWE in determining most efficient treatment for MS◦ Establishment of world’s largest learning health system for MS (MS PATHS)◦ Role of international cooperation in standardizing patient care◦ Challenges in collection and processing of diverse patient data◦ Role of MRI in MS diagnostics◦ Translation of novel diagnostic approaches from research to clinics◦ The future of therapeutics for neurological diseasesGet in touch with Rick:◦ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-rudick-966501a5/◦ Web (MS-PATHS program): https://www.mspaths.com/Make sure to download the full show notes with our guest's bio, links to their most notable work, and our recommendations for further reads on the topic of the episode at pmedcast.com

About 80% of the people with relapsing-remitting MS will eventually be diagnosed with secondary progressive MS. At that point, their remissions stop and their MS symptoms continue to worsen. And about 15% of the people diagnosed with MS are diagnosed from the beginning with primary progressive MS. So identifying ways to optimally treat progressive MS is a priority.    Joining me with updates on progressive MS research, treatment, and rehabilitation are Dr. Kathy Zackowski and Dr. Daniel Ontaneda. Dr. Ontaneda is an associate professor of Neurology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and a staff member at the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute's Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis. And Dr. Zackowski is the Senior Director of Patient Management, Care and Rehabilitation Research at the National MS Society and a member of the International Progressive MS Alliance Scientific Steering Committee. We're sharing some startling details about MS care from the European MS Platform's MS Barometer 2020. We're talking about a study that shows that lifestyle choices like increasing physical activity and choosing not to smoke can have a positive impact on MS fatigue. And we'll tell you about a new program that empowers people affected by MS to pose the questions that will drive MS research. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Details from the European MS Platform's MS Barometer 2020  1:34 The International Progressive MS Alliance issues a call to action on progressive MS rehabilitation with Dr. Kathy Zackowski   4:35 Study shows that lifestyle changes can impact MS fatigue   18:00 Our Own Questions Have Power  19:20 Progressive MS treatment and Research with Dr. Daniel Ontaneda  21:03 Share this episode  38:17 Take the RealTalk MS Listener Survey and you could win a $100 Amazon Gift Card  38:38 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email:  https://realtalkms.com/187 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.comPhone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com RealTalk MS Listener Survey (You'll be entered to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card!) National MS Society COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for People Living with MS MS Barometer 2020 Prioritizing Progressive MS Rehabilitation Research: A Call from the International Progressive MS Alliance STUDY: Associations Between Fatigue Impact and Lifestyle Factors in People with Multiple Sclerosis: The Danish MS  Hospitals Rehabilitation Study iConquer MS: Our Questions Have Power Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 187 Guests: Dr. Kathy Zackowski and Dr. Daniel Ontaneda Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist,  RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

This week on Healthbite, I discuss the impact of psychological health on the immune system. Dr. Mary Rensel, assistant professor of medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Director of Wellness at the Mellen Center of the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Rensel is also the founder of Brain Fresh, a coach support system as well as co-owner of Brain Ops, a program focused on optimizing work performance through neurobiology. Dr. Rensel shares her proven techniques to help mitigate stress and how that can help improve immune function. HighlightsCan stress affect your immune system? How three 15-minute breaks throughout the day help increase your immunity?One simple strategy Dr. Rensel uses to maintain control over her emotions. Dr. Rensel's proven technique to help you achieve a positive mindset in as little as 30 minutes a day.Find out more about brainfresh at brainfresh.orgFollow Dr. Mary Rensel on social media LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.Don't forget to follow Dehl Nutrition on Instagram and Facebook! If you've enjoyed this episode of Health Bite, please leave a review and let us know.

Struggling with anxiety or depression? Over half of people living with multiple sclerosis can experience depression and up to 40% have anxiety. Both psychological and physical symptoms that people with MS experience are explained. Causes for these mood disorders are discussed including immune inflammation in the brain, adaptation to having a chronic disease and medication side effects such as interferons and steroids. People with depression are at higher rate of developing multiple sclerosis. In addition, depression is associated with more disability for those living with MS which may be due to not taking medications properly, smoking, not exercising and even chemical brain changes. Therapy options explored including meditation (including mindfulness), stress reduction, cognitive behavioral therapy and virtual platforms. Prescription medication options for both anxiety and depression covered including benefits and risks including dependence. Experts share resources and hope for those living with MS with severe depression including suicidal thoughts. Barry Singer MD, Director of The MS Center for Innovations in Care, interviews: Amy Sullivan PsyD, ABPP is a board-certified, staff clinical health psychologist and the Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Sullivan received her doctorate degree at Argosy University-Atlanta, her internship at the University of Cincinnati, and her fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Pain Medicine. She is also the principal investigator for several clinical trials at the Mellen Center, where her research interests are focused on MS, pain, exercise and behavioral medicine. Adam Kaplin MD PhD is the Chief Scientific Officer of MyMD Pharmaceuticals Inc. since December 2020. He completed his undergraduate degree from Yale University, graduating magna cum laude, and obtained both his MD and PhD degrees at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Kaplin complete his residency in psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he served as the chief resident of psychiatry. He served as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at John Hopkins and the principal psychiatric consultant to the John Hopkins MS Center. He remains as adjunct faculty at John Hopkins. Visit www.mslivingwell.org for more information. Share your MS story on https://ICanWithMS.org

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode on “Caring for the Care Partner.” Hosted by Peter Damiri, Senior Director of Content Development for MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2021 MS Awareness Month theme: Improving Mental Health and Wellness. Our returning guest Dr. Amy Sullivan is a Board Certified, Staff Clinical Health Psychologist and the Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Sullivan talks about the often overlooked but important physical and emotional needs of care partners and provides practical tips and suggestions on ways to avoid care partner burnout. This episode was produced and recorded at Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights, NJ. Music provided by The New Anxiety (Tim Recuber and John Masino III).

Mary R. Rensel, MD, is a Staff Neurologist in Neuroimmunology at Cleveland Clinic's Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research. She is also Board Certified in Integrative Holistic Medicine. She directs the Pediatric MS and the Wellness programming at the Mellen Center. She is an Assistant Professor at the Cleveland Clinic Learner College of Medicine where she serves as an instructor for the medical students. www.Instagram.com/MRenselMD www.linkedin.com/in/mary-rensel-94844b1a You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg7lbnRJz9RImUaVG_qMkvQ/about?view_as=subscriber https://www.facebook.com/mary.rensel.9 @the_brain_fresh Brainfresh.org Keep your sex life in your life! She is a brain doc, a mom, and a coach! Welcome! I first saw her at the Brave Enough 2019 conference when you were talking about brain health! For people who don't know…what is Multiple Sclerosis? How does it affect one's sex life – male and female? Segway into overactive bladder for a bit….formal physical therapy versus googling “kegels”. How do you incorporate integrative medicine into people's lives living with neurologic disabilities? What do we do about fatigue in neurologic conditions? What do we do about decreased sensations? Talk to me about coaching. When did you get interested and how do you use it in your life? https://www.Instagram.com/MRenselMD www.linkedin.com/in/mary-rensel-94844b1a You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg7lbnRJz9RImUaVG_qMkvQ/about?view_as=subscriber https://www.facebook.com/mary.rensel.9 Brainfresh.org --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kj-casperson/message

Episode Show Notes jeffsanders.com/371 . Learn More About the Show The 5 AM Miracle Podcast . Free Productivity Resources Join The 5 AM Club! . The 5 AM Miracle Book Audiobook, Paperback, and Kindle . Connect on Social Media Facebook Group • Instagram • Twitter • LinkedIn . Episode Summary Your Brain Can Do Better, A Lot Better I would love to believe that drinking more coffee is the answer to all my health and productivity challenges. Since chugging caffeine isn’t the best answer, what can we do to reach our next level of performance? In this week’s episode of The 5 AM Miracle Podcast I speak with Dr. Mary Rensel and Ali Hively, co-founders of the Brain Ops Group, about how we can optimize our brains for stress, resiliency, and performance. . Resources Mentioned in this Episode Brain Ops Group [Speaking, workshops, and program to optimize brain health] Dr. Mary Rensel [LinkedIn] Ali Hively [LinkedIn] Kijia [Ali’s health and fitness company] . Mary Rensel, MD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Director of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Wellness at the Mellen Center of the Cleveland Clinic. She has graduated from the Medical College of Ohio and completed her Neurology and Neuro-immunology fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic. She is boarded in Neurology and Integrative Medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Rensel’s work has focused on Adult and Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis, Brain health and Integrative Medicine. Her work in academic medicine often intersects with wellness, advocacy, innovation and strategic initiatives. She serves on the International Pediatric MS Study Group and is on the steering committee of the National Network of Pediatric MS Centers. She is a “Best Doctor” of Cleveland since 2010 per the Cleveland Magazine. . Ali Hively is the founder of Kijia, a company which empowers busy women to feel their best through building habits of nutrition, mindset and movement. She (Kijia) helps companies and individuals break through through their busy lives to manage stress, lose weight, gain energy and live their best life! Ali has created a signature lifestyle program to make positive change possible and long lasting. Ali holds a Master’s Degree in education and curriculum. She has been in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years as a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor and nutrition and wellness consultant, before starting her own company. Ali is the Director of Fitness for a tennis and racquet club where she teaches fitness classes, manages a team of instructors and runs wellness programs.

Episode Show Notes jeffsanders.com/371 . Learn More About the Show The 5 AM Miracle Podcast . Free Productivity Resources Join The 5 AM Club! . The 5 AM Miracle Book Audiobook, Paperback, and Kindle . Connect on Social Media Facebook Group • Instagram • Twitter • LinkedIn . Episode Summary Your Brain Can Do Better, A Lot Better I would love to believe that drinking more coffee is the answer to all my health and productivity challenges. Since chugging caffeine isn’t the best answer, what can we do to reach our next level of performance? In this week’s episode of The 5 AM Miracle Podcast I speak with Dr. Mary Rensel and Ali Hively, co-founders of the Brain Ops Group, about how we can optimize our brains for stress, resiliency, and performance. . Resources Mentioned in this Episode Caldera + Lab [Get 20% off your first Caldera Lab purchase of The Good with code 5AMMIRACLE] Gusto [Get 3 Months Free!] Teachable [Get 50% off your first 3 months with code MIRACLE] Green Chef [Get $80 off and free shipping with code MIRACLE80] Brain Ops Group [Speaking, workshops, and program to optimize brain health] Dr. Mary Rensel [LinkedIn] Ali Hively [LinkedIn] Kijia [Ali’s health and fitness company] . Mary Rensel, MD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Director of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Wellness at the Mellen Center of the Cleveland Clinic. She has graduated from the Medical College of Ohio and completed her Neurology and Neuro-immunology fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic. She is boarded in Neurology and Integrative Medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Rensel’s work has focused on Adult and Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis, Brain health and Integrative Medicine. Her work in academic medicine often intersects with wellness, advocacy, innovation and strategic initiatives. She serves on the International Pediatric MS Study Group and is on the steering committee of the National Network of Pediatric MS Centers. She is a “Best Doctor” of Cleveland since 2010 per the Cleveland Magazine. . Ali Hively is the founder of Kijia, a company which empowers busy women to feel their best through building habits of nutrition, mindset and movement. She (Kijia) helps companies and individuals break through through their busy lives to manage stress, lose weight, gain energy and live their best life! Ali has created a signature lifestyle program to make positive change possible and long lasting. Ali holds a Master’s Degree in education and curriculum. She has been in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years as a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor and nutrition and wellness consultant, before starting her own company. Ali is the Director of Fitness for a tennis and racquet club where she teaches fitness classes, manages a team of instructors and runs wellness programs.

Today, remyelination holds real promise as a strategy for restoring lost function and slowing or even stopping MS progression.  This week, we're taking a deep dive into the current state of remyelination research.  Joining me are Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, the Hazel Prior Hostetler Professor of Neurology at the Cleveland Clinic and the director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, and Dr. Ian Duncan, a neuroscientist, and Professor of Neurology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the recipient of the 2020 Dystel Prize for MS Research.   We're also talking about the publication of the Atlas of MS, the most extensive global MS prevalence study to date. And we're even including a copy of the published study as bonus content in the RealTalk MS app!   We're sharing an excellent explanation of comorbidities in MS by Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie. And we're sharing some news about Dr. Marrie, as well.   The European MS Platform's annual conference begins Thursday. This year, the theme is Understanding Progressive MS. We'll tell you how and where to register for this free virtual event. And we'll remind you where you can register for next week's virtual 2020 MS-CONNECT conference, hosted by the MS Society of Canada.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Veterans with MS are eligible to join the PVA  :22 The largest MS prevalence study to date has been published. And it's yours in the RealTalk MS app!  3:26 Dr. Ruth Ann Marie on comorbidities in MS   4:29 European MS Platform Annual Conference: Understanding Progressive MS begins Thursday   5:56 MS Society of Canada 2020 MS-CONNECT Conference begins next Monday  6:56 Dr. Jeffrey Cohen talks about remyelination  9:13 Dr. Ian Duncan talks about the science behind remyelination  21:48 Share this episode  31:31 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  31:52 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/168 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.comPhone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) Paralyzed Veterans Of America VIDEO: Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie on comorbidities in MS Register for the European MS Platform Annual Conference: Understanding Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Register for the MS Society of Canada's 2020 MS-CONNECT Conference National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 168 Guests: Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, Dr. Ian Duncan Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist, EMSPVirtual2020, MSConnect, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

Welcome to the NeurologyLive Mind Moments podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice. In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Bryan Davis, a clinical health psychology fellow at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Davis spoke to what he took away from a recent undertaking by him and colleagues exploring the impact of gender norms and masculinity on men with multiple sclerosis.  For more neurology news and expert-driven content, visit neurologylive.com (https://www.neurologylive.com/) .

Director of the Experimental Therapeutics Program in Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Jeffrey Cohen, MD, shares insights on how stem cell-based therapies may provide revolutionary treatment options for neurological disorders and deliver exciting prospects in modern medicine.

My guest this week is Dr. Amy Sullivan, a Clinical Health Psychologist and the Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic. We're talking about fighting feelings of isolation, building resiliency, caregiver emotional wellness, and how we should be thinking about living in a "new normal" world. Massachusetts General Hospital and iConquer MS surveyed more than 1,000 people living with MS about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their daily lives. We're among the first to hear the survey results from investigator Dr. Farrah Mateen and Hollie Schmidt. MS research is about to take a quantum leap forward. We're talking about how the MULTI-ACT patient engagement roadmap will change the face of MS research and involve people affected by MS in ways that they've never been involved in research before. And we'll share new data from an ongoing clinical trial that's evaluating a cutting-edge cell therapy designed to eliminate B-cells carrying the Epstein-Barr virus. (Many experts believe that eliminating the Epstein-Barr virus Barr virus might eliminate most multiple sclerosis.) We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! The International Progressive MS Alliance is partnering with MULTI-ACT -- and why that's a major step forward in MS research  2:26 New Data About ATA 188 Cell Therapy Clinical Trial Shared at the European Academy of Neurology Virtual Meeting  5:47 Dr. Farrah Mateen & Holly Schmidt Share Results from the Massachusetts General Hospital/iConquer MS COVID-19 Survey  10:08 My Interview with Dr. Amy Sullivan  30:21 Share this episode  41:27 Please Support the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  41:50 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/144 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund International Progressive MS Alliance Announces Partnership with MULTI-ACT As Part of World MS Day Celebrations MULTI-ACT   Phase 1 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of ATA188 in Subjects with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating & Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 144 Hosted By: Jon Strum Guests: Dr. Amy Sullivan, Dr. Farrah Mateen, Hollie Schmidt Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, Coronavirus, COVID19, iConquerMS, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode on “Better Symptom Management through Wellness.” Hosted by Peter Damiri, Vice President of Programs and Services for MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2020 MS Awareness Month theme: The Mind, Body, and MS Connection. Our guests Mary Rensel, MD and Amy Sullivan, PsyD of the Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for MS talk about brain health and provide helpful strategies to improve MS care through nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and overall healthy living. Dr. Rensel is an MS neurologist and Director of the Wellness Program, and Dr. Sullivan is a psychologist and Director of Behavioral Medicine, Research and Training.

In this episode, we interview Dr. Mary Resel. Dr. Rensel is the neurologist for Sam’s sister, Nikki. She is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Director of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Wellness at the Mellen Center of the Cleveland Clinic. We discuss with Dr. Rensel pediatric MS and research and how it may help shape the future for those living with MS. Our conversation with Dr. Rensel is informative and inspirational as well as hopeful.  Note - to read more about the research taking place at the Cleveland Clinic, visit the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis and click the Research & Clinical Trails tab. Interested in more information regarding the pediatric MS centers, visit Network of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Centers.

Caregiving carries a lot of challenges. And for some people, it can feel overwhelming. So, what are the things that make being a caregiver for someone living with a chronic illness like MS so challenging?   We're kicking off National Family Caregivers Month with my guest, Dr. Amy Sullivan, Director of Behavioral Medicine, Research and Training at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis at the Cleveland Clinic, and we're talking about how to best navigate some of the challenges that go along with being a caregiver for someone living with MS.      We're also talking about today's election in the U.S., and what it means for people living MS, the unresolved status of Ocrevus as a treatment for primary progressive MS in the UK, and the fast-tracking of Mavenclad in the UK. We'll tell you about the bus driver who stood up for a man with MS, an insurance company that will fly people to Mexico and pay a cash bonus to buy their MS prescription medication there, and we'll share results from the Embracing Carers International Survey.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS?! ___________ It's Election Day in the U.S. (and what that means to people living with MS!)  :22 The Bus Driver Who Stood Up for a Man with MS  2:49 An Insurer Will Fly People with MS to Mexico to Buy Their Prescription Drugs  4:00 Ocrevus On Hold for People with Primary Progressive MS in the UK  5:49 Mavenclad Fast-Tracked in the UK  7:59 Embracing Carers Campaign & Can Do MS Announce a New Collaboration   9:42  Embracing Carers International Survey Results  10:52 Interview with Dr. Amy Sullivan  12:55 ___________ LINKSIf your podcast app doesn’t allow you to click on these links, you’ll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android RealTalk MS Congressional Report Card CanDo-MS Embracing Carers Program Recommendations for Cognitive Screening and Management in Multiple Sclerosis Care Give RealTalk MS a Rating & Review ___________ Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 63 Hosted By: Jon Strum Guest: Dr. Amy Sullivan Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSActivist, DrAmyBSullivan, ClevelandClinic, Caregiving, Caregiver, Ocrevus, Mavenclad, EMDSerono, EmbracingCarers, CanDoMS, RealTalkMS

A young woman presents with migraine-like headaches, black spots in her vision and emotional lability. Think you know the diagnosis? You may be surprised – this medical mystery is not what it seems. In this episode, learn more about this rare diagnosis, and gain clinical insight from neurologist Devon Conway, MD, and ophthalmologist Arthi Venkat, MD. Intro :11 A 24-year-old woman presents with gradual worsening of a migraine-like headache accompanied by nausea :22 Description of symptoms :37 ER visit 1:23 Onset of new symptoms 1:44 Second ER visit 2:11 Outpatient MRI findings 2:28 Lumbar puncture findings 2:50 Patient is admitted to hospital 3:52 Second MRI findings 4:16 Ophthalmology consult and results of fluorescein angiography 4:46 Audiogram is ordered 5:17 Case summary 5:40 What is the most likely diagnosis? 6:05 Triad of Susac syndrome 6:27 Remember: This is not a vasculitis 7:11 History of Susac syndrome 7:40 CNS manifestations of the Susac triad 8:27 Consult with Devon Conway, MD 10:13 Flare signals for non-radiologists/neurologists 11:05 Anything specific that says “demyelinating” on MRI? 13:35 Distinguishing the lesions in this case from those of MS 15:36 Neurology work-up approach to this type of case 16:28 The utility of lumbar puncture in this situation 18:05 About ADEM (acute disseminated encephalomyelitis) 21:06 Ocular manifestations of Susac syndrome 22:26 Consult with Arthi Venkat, MD 23:17 Ophthalmology differential in a patient with intermittent vision loss in various fields of vision 23:55 Overview of branch retinal artery occlusions 25:22 Difference between branch retinal artery occlusions and other ophthalmologic presentations common to rheumatologists 27:51 How the ophthalmologic exam helps differentiate MS from Susac syndrome 30:07 Overview of sensorineural hearing loss in Susac syndrome 34:09 Do we know for sure this is an autoimmune disease? 34:59 Aggressive immunosuppression seems to halt the progression of disease 35:34 What are treatment options? 35:42 What do we know about long-term outcomes? 36:31 Who takes care of these patients? 37:29 Treatment, outcome of this patient 38:07 Episode/case summary 38:20 Devon Conway, MD, is a staff neurologist at Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis. Arthi Venkat, MD, is a retinal and uveitis specialist at Cole Eye Institute at Cleveland Clinic. We’d love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to rheuminationspodcast@healio.com. References: Aubart-Cohen F, et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2007;86:93-102. Greco A, et al. Autoimmun Rev. 2014;13:814-821. Rennebohm RM, et al. Int J Stroke. 2018;doi:10.1177/1747493017751737.

Experts estimate that depression affects about 50% of the people diagnosed with MS.  And, left unchecked, depression can take your vibrant, colorful world and re-draw it in somber shades of gray.  If there's good news about depression, it's that it can be treated.  In this special Vacation Edition of RealTalk MS, we're going to revisit a really important conversation that I had last November with Dr. Amy Sullivan, Director of Behavioral Medicine, Research and Training at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis at the Cleveland Clinic.  Dr. Sullivan shares some really important insights about living with MS and depression...and what to do about it if you are.

Last week we had the pleasure of attending the American Academy of Neurology’s 70th Annual Meeting (April 21–27, CA, USA), where we spoke to Robert Fox, from the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis at the Cleveland Clinic (OH, USA), about the Phase II SPRINT-MS trial of ibudilast in progressive multiple sclerosis. In this #NCTalks podcast recorded at the event, Lauren Pulling (Publisher) speaks to Robert, who is the Protocol Principal Investigator in the trial, to learn more about the current landscape that led to this research and potential treatment regimens. Listen to our podcast below to find out more. View more podcasts, news and exclusive interviews at www.neuro-central.com

Experts estimate that about 50% of the people living with MS are impacted by depression. And left untreated, depression can darken your entire outlook on the world. It has a way of making everything less. We're going to explore MS and depression with my guest, Dr. Amy Sullivan, Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis at the Cleveland Clinic.   We're also talking about a study that may offer some good news about what seems to be a highly effective drug therapy for the 10,000 children who have been diagnosed with MS. We'll look at a nationwide study that indicates that women who are diagnosed with MS are reluctant to talk with their doctors about how MS might affect their work lives, their family planning choices, and even their personal relationships. And we'll look at the pending European Union approval of Ocrevus as a treatment for both Relapsing Remitting and Primary Progresive MS. We've got the latest news, views, interviews & breakthroughs that are important to you. So...are you ready for RealTalk MS?

In this NCTalks podcast we speak to Jeffrey Cohen, Director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research (OH, USA). Dr Cohen has a large clinical practice and is also Director of Experimental Therapeutics program and is involved in a number of clinical trials. Today, Dr Cohen discusses the use of bone marrow transplantation as a treatment option for relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), the subject of a Hot Topics discussion at ECTRIMS 2016 (London, UK, 14–17 September 2016). Is the technique a good option for patients? How could it be improved? What does the future of MS treatment look like? Listen to our podcast to find out Dr Cohen’s opinions on these key issues and more.

[intro music]   Hello, and welcome to Episode Twenty of Multiple Sclerosis Discovery, the podcast of the MS Discovery Forum. I’m your host, Dan Keller.   This week’s podcast features an interview with Dr. Jeffery Cohen about two clinical trials. But to begin, here is a brief summary of some of the latest developments on the MS Discovery Forum at msdiscovery.org. Genome-wide association studies are raising more questions than they answer for multiple sclerosis, according to new research. As the number of risky genetic variants grew, researchers began to wonder if many of those variants would be found in the murky waters of “noncoding DNA,” which comprises about 98% of the human genome. Those fears were confirmed in a study published last month in the journal Nature. According to the report, almost 90% of the risk variants fell within the noncoding region and 60% were found in areas known as enhancers or switches. These areas manage gene activity, though researchers are far from fully understanding how they work. While genome-wide association studies have been helpful to researchers, this study highlights that they are just a first step towards a better understanding of MS and the human genome.   The International Progressive MS Alliance recently released a call for applications for their second round of grants. To go along with this announcement, Professor Alan Thompson, the head of the Alliance’s scientific steering committee, penned a post for our blog. In his post, he emphasizes the urgent need for more research into progressive MS. He notes that over one million people worldwide live with progressive MS, yet no specific treatments exist for this condition. You can read Professor Thompson’s post in the blog section of the News and Future directions tab at msdiscovery.org. To get more information about the grants from the Alliance, visit our “Funding Opportunities” section under the “Professional Resources” tab on our website.   In addition to the latest funding opportunity from the Progressive MS Alliance, we also recently posted a long list of funding opportunities from the National MS Society.   [transition music]   Now to the interview. Dr. Jeffrey Cohen is a neurologist and director of the Mellen Center for multiple sclerosis at the Cleveland Clinic. He spoke with MSDF about two clinical trials, one examining the clinical use of stem cells, the other about a generic version of glatiramer acetate, Copaxone.   Interviewer – Dan Keller First of all, what was the aim of the clinical stem cell trial and what phase was it done in?   Interviewee – Jeffrey Cohen So we now have 11 medications approved to treat multiple sclerosis. They are all effective in the early, relapsing remitting stage of the disease, but there is a major unmet need for treatments that repair damage and might be effective in progressive MS. Our main goal was to explore cell-based therapies to treat multiple sclerosis, specifically to test the feasibility and safety of administering so-called mesenchymal stem cells. This was a Phase I study of mesenchymal stem cells. These are stem cells that are present in many tissues of the body. We isolated them from bone marrow which is probably the version that is the best studied previously. We grew them in the laboratory to increase their numbers, and then readministered them intravenously. We were focusing primarily on safety, as I said. We had fairly intense monitoring for any complications. Thankfully, we saw none. We also looked in a very preliminary way for benefit using clinical measures, a variety of imaging approaches and immunologic measures.   MSDF What is the hypothesis here that they are doing? Do they actually get into the brain? You are infusing them IV. There is a blood-brain barrier, these are pretty big objects.   Dr. Cohen There are actually a large number of studies in the laboratory and in animals that suggest that these cells have a number of properties that we think would be of use in a disease like multiple sclerosis. First of all, they seem to modulate the immune response. They dampen down inflammation. But more importantly, they appear to be able to produce a wide range of soluble factors, growth factors and other substances that we think promote repair. We think of them as the delivery system for growth factors that promote repair. We don't think that they themselves develop into brain tissue but will become neuro-cells, but rather that they create a milieu that is conducive for the natural intrinsic repair processes to remyelinate or restore neurologic function. The other property that is potentially very advantageous is that they appear to be attracted to areas of tissue damage or inflammation. They appear to have the ability to migrate within tissues, and in fact to migrate from either the cerebral spinal fluid into the brain or from the blood into the nervous system. So we think we can take advantage of that by administering them intravenously.   MSDF Did you do dose-ranging here?   Dr. Cohen: We did not. One of the things we learned from this study is that there are a lot of unknowns about cell-based therapies. What the appropriate dose is? Whether multiple doses are needed? What is the best route of administration? Whether there are nuances as to how you grow the cells in culture? What characteristics you want to augment? Dose-ranging in particular is something that has been very difficult to do in the field, particularly for some of these cells that are grown in culture; you usually have the dose that you have. That has been an issue that we have struggled with as have others in the field.   MSDF How long did you follow these patients and what did you find?   Dr. Cohen We followed them for two months prior to infusion. That is the time during which their cells were being cultured, and then for six months after infusion. So very reassuringly there were no serious or severe adverse events. In fact, there were very little, if any, side effects. Patients were not immunosuppressed. They had no premedication. The only side effect was that the culture media contains a chemical called DSMO. Some patients got a garlic taste in their mouth. If they don't like Italian food, they didn't like that. We also looked in a preliminary way for evidence of benefit with the caveat that this study was not really designed to look for benefit. We used this as an opportunity to explore a variety of measures that might show tissue repair. We saw enticing improvement in some measures in some patients, but for patients as a group, there was no clear-cut evidence of benefit. We have to be very careful how we interpret these results.   MSDF Could you follow them in any way? Were they tagged or any other way that you know where they went?   Dr. Cohen No. That is another aspect of the cell therapy field that is getting a lot of attention. At the moment it is largely a black box. After we administer the cells, knowing whether they survive and where they go and how long they live there. That is another line of research besides pursuing further clinical trials of these cells is also to develop methods to track them within the body. There are some promising approaches that we are in the process of developing.   MSDF Now I take it these were not modified in any way, they were just cultured to multiply them?   Dr. Cohen There were some growth factors in the culture media, but they were from the regulatory point of view, not very manipulated. That is the terminology that is used. That is another area of debate is some of the specifics of the culture approach, whether we should add other factors that might change the properties of the cells. Whether it is okay for them to be frozen, which we do largely for convenience because then we can schedule the infusion. Or whether they should be taken fresh from the culture and administered. There are arguments for both approaches.   MSDF Many cells seem to hone right back to where they came from. Do these just go back to the bone marrow do you think, or do you think they actually went somewhere because that area needed repair?   Dr. Cohen There have been a few studies in some other conditions where these cells have been given. One of the interesting properties is that you can administer these cells from another person and they are not rejected. They become, I wouldn't say the standard, but a very common treatment for what is called graft-versus-host disease, which is a very severe complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplant where the transplanted immune system attacks the recipient's body. That is where the immunomodulatory effects of mesenchymal stem cells were first observed. There are, unfortunately, have been a couple of instances where MSCs that were from another person of a different gender, were administered to someone with graft-versus-host disease who unfortunately, subsequently died of GVH. In those cases, these cells were found in a range of tissues including bone marrow. Probably a more important obstacle is for after intravenous administration is the lung because that is where the blood goes from the veins. These cells probably collect in the lung initially and then percolate out into the tissues.   MSDF Do you have any concerns, any caveats about potential harms, limitations, from using this? Is it feasible on a large scale?   Dr. Cohen We took a very conservative approach with the idea that there are so many unknowns of cell-based therapies, including precedence in multiple sclerosis where therapies had a different effect than we anticipated. We thought it was appropriate to take a very careful systematic approach starting with a small safety study and then building from there. At least within the limitations of our study, meaning that it was relatively short, and relatively small, we saw no indications of any complications. Some of the hypothetical concerns would be cancer. Stem cells share some properties that are similar to cancer cells, or ectopic tissue formation. Stem cells have the natural ability to develop into almost any kind of tissue. At least, presumably they could go to one tissue and develop into another type of cell, so bone within the heart or something like that. We really saw no indication of that. There are really no examples of that in the literature, but because of those sorts of concerns, we took a very careful approach. We feel comfortable now moving on to a bigger program.    MSDF You had discussed some of the problems that arose using allogeneic cells. Just to clarify, this was using autologous cells?   Dr. Cohen Correct. These were cells from the patient themselves. There is still some debate in the field, which approach is better. Whether to take cells from the person themselves or whether to take cells from someone who does not have the disease that you are treating. That again is an issue that has not been settled. I think some of the cell tracking we were talking about earlier may help with that. Rather than answering all of these questions one trial at a time, we may be able to adjudicate some of these questions by seeing whether cells traffic more effectively.   MSDF Let’s shift to your other trial, the GATE trial using generic Copaxone. Is that available now and what was the point of the trial?   Dr. Cohen The purpose of this trial was potentially to have a generic version of one of the established multiple sclerosis drugs come available. The incentive would be that presumably because of the lower development costs, that the generic version would save money for payers and for patients. The trial we just completed was of a generic version of glatiramer acetate, Copaxone, one of the initial drugs approved to treat MS, a drug that we have a great deal of experience with. It has established efficacy and a known good safety profile. This study tested a generic version of that with the intent of showing that it had equivalent efficacy, in this case, as tested by MRI and had equivalent safety and tolerability.   MSDF These were all patients with relapsing, remitting MS? You had, what, about 735?   Dr. Cohen Correct. This was in a patient population with relapsing, remitting MS; the population for which Copaxone is approved.   MSDF What were the interventions, the test group?   Dr. Cohen There were three groups in this trial. One group was treated with generic glatiramer acetate. One group was treated with the brand Copaxone and then there was also a small placebo group to demonstrate what is called study assay sensitivity. The purpose of which was to show for the trial overall that the generic glatiramer acetate is equivalent to the brand-name, the reference drug as it is called, but also that within this trial with this population, that both drugs were effective.   MSDF Where was this done, and is that ethical?   Dr. Cohen One of the things we have encountered increasingly in developing multiple sclerosis drugs is that there are ethical and practical issues to including placebo groups. At this point it has become extremely difficult to include a placebo group in a large Phase III study that goes on for several years. In this case, this was a short trial, with the advantage of using MRI as the endpoint. It was conducted to some extent in North America, but primarily in Eastern Europe and other  countries where unfortunately, multiple sclerosis treatments are not as available.    MSDF What did you find?   Dr. Cohen The study was successful. It showed equivalent efficacy as measured by gadolinium-enhanced MRI, and also showed equivalent safety and tolerability as measured by adverse events and injection site tolerability.   MSDF What would this mean for patients if someone brought out a generic?   Dr. Cohen The hope would be, is that if this drug is approved, that it would be less expensive. Multiple sclerosis is an expensive disease to care for and a great part of that cost is medication costs. So the hope would be that this would be less expensive. The other caveat is that complicated molecules such as Copaxone are difficult to replicate. In addition to very extensive chemical and biophysical analyses, that is why a trial was conducted, because of the feeling that it would only be with clinical data that we could…we assure ourselves that this was in fact similar to Copaxone.   MSDF I would take it, that this would only apply to the generic you tested. I mean generics have a certain tolerance level margin compared to the approved brand, so not all generics are the same.   Dr. Cohen That is correct. It is actually quite tricky to develop a generic of a complicated molecule, either a complex mixture such as glatiramer acetate or a so-called biological like a monoclonal antibody. Each one has to be tested one at a time.   MSDF Anything important that we have missed, or to add?   Dr. Cohen This trial was designed with the assistance of, and discussions with EMA, the European Regulatory Agency. It has been somewhat more difficult in the United States. The FDA is still somewhat unclear on their policies and the procedures for testing complex generics and biosimilars. The status of this trial in the United States is still somewhat uncertain.   MSDF Very good. Thank you.   Dr. Cohen Thank you.   [transition music]   Thank you for listening to Episode Twenty of Multiple Sclerosis Discovery. This podcast was produced by the MS Discovery Forum, MSDF, the premier source of independent news and information on MS research. MSDF’s executive editor is Robert Finn. Msdiscovery.org is part of the non-profit Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis. Robert McBurney is our President and CEO, and Hollie Schmidt is vice president of scientific operations.    Msdiscovery.org aims to focus attention on what is known and not yet known about the causes of MS and related conditions, their pathological mechanisms, and potential ways to intervene. By communicating this information in a way that builds bridges among different disciplines, we hope to open new routes toward significant clinical advances.   We’re interested in your opinions. Please join the discussion on one of our online forums or send comments, criticisms, and suggestions to editor@msdiscovery.org.   [outro music]