The National Multiple Sclerosis Society aspires to bring the global community together to cure MS for everyone, aiming to achieve this goal as swiftly as possible. Their mission involves coordinating and focusing worldwide resources on essential research questions to accelerate progress toward ending MS.
The grant program by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, particularly through the Pathways to Cures Roadmap, aims to drive advancements in MS research by supporting projects that focus on one of three pathways: stopping MS, restoring function, or ending MS through prevention. The society emphasizes the importance of funding research globally to find solutions for everyone affected by MS. Proposals submitted must clearly demonstrate their relevance to the research questions identified in the Roadmap. The society endorses various types of research, including laboratory models, human studies, and population-based approaches. Special consideration is given to studies that encourage collaboration across disciplines, adhere to principles of data and resource sharing, and focus on underserved and understudied ethnic and racial groups within the MS community. The John Dystel Prize, an annual award of $40,000 administered jointly with the American Academy of Neurology, is designated for a distinguished researcher in the field and includes an opportunity to present their work at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting.