Nearly 100,000 Canadians are living with multiple sclerosis and each year, 1,000 new Canadians are diagnosed with MS, the highest rate in the world.
On Thursday, the MS Society of Canada unveiled a $4.2 million grant for Canada’s first mesenchymal stem cell clinical trial.
The clinical trial works by bone marrow being extracted from a patient’s hip and the mesenchymal cells then being multiplied for weeks in the lab. The cells, which help kick-start the immune system, are then re-infused into a patient’s veins.
With this trial, patients do not undergo chemotherapy. Dr. James Marriott is leading the trials in Winnipeg and says if the research works, it could cure both progressing and regressive-remitting MS.
Nine countries are participating in this clinical trial with Winnipeg and Ottawa being the only two Canadian cities. A total of 160 patients total will participate. Twenty of who are from Winnipeg.
The trial will run for two years, after which all nine countries will come together and share their findings.
