Overcoming Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Research
At this time, Dr. Wahls is collecting the pilot data from her clinical trial, funded by Direct MS Charity of Canada, DJO Inc. (in-kind support of electrical therapy devices and supplies), Pinnaclife Inc. (in-kind support of supplements), and TZ Press Inc. (in-kind donation of educational materials) and has been funded for another two years through the generous donations to the Wahls Research Fund. Preliminary data from the first ten subjects was presented at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Society for Neurosciences by Babita Bisht, under the title “Effects of intensive directed nutrition, progressive exercise program and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.” The abstract was awarded “Hot Topic Status” because of its findings. If you would like to receive the lay summary that was given to the press, enter your email here.
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Conducting research is an expensive endeavor. Seed funds to help collect a small amount of pilot data, like Dr. Wahls’ current study, range from $75,000 to $100,000. A somewhat larger study testing the safety and tolerability of a study will cost $250,000 to $500,000. A clinical trial that is large enough to prove that the intervention is effective often costs a million dollars or more. Dr. Wahls has sent multiple grant proposals for $450,000 to the National MS Society and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), but has thus far has not been funded.
But traditional funders of research, such as NIH, are less likely to fund the type of work that Dr. Wahls is doing, because they prefer to support studies that examine just one variable at a time rather many interventions simultaneously. As a result, The Wahls Foundation and the University of Iowa Foundation have the goal of raising funds independently to support Dr. Wahls’ research. You can donate to The Wahls Research Fund and help support our important work by using the link below. The funds in Dr. Wahls’ research account are managed by the University of Iowa Foundation and are tax deductible.
Donate using this link.
Our current study is what is called an open label single arm study. Everyone is receiving the intervention and we are assessing how safe it is and how well subjects tolerate it. The next step in scientific research is to use a study design that includes randomization and a wait list control, meaning half of the subjects receive the study interventions and half wait for a period (usually 3 to 6 months) before beginning the intervention.
Please consider becoming part of the team by supporting this exciting work.
The Wahls Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization.
