Role of Biomarkers in MS Research
MRF’s Research Achievements
Discovery Biology
- Identified 7 key areas of focus required for myelin repair
- Recruited Principal Investigator’s to initiate consortium
- Assembled world class Scientific Advisory Board
- Moved the field forward
- >135 scientific papers published
- 9 issued patents (4 more allowed)
- Funded/trained >90 young investigators in MS research
- Therapeutic targets identified
- Research tools developed
- Added Principal Investigators as needed expertise was identified
Translational Medicine
- Created Translational Medicine Platform to methodically conduct pre-clinical studies
- Recruited staff of world class researchers and pharma industry trained drug hunters
- Assembled highly experienced Drug Discovery Advisory Board
- Established MRF’s Translational Medicine Center (TMC) – houses 4 in vitro assays capable of driving drug discovery programs
- TMC also provides in vivo capabilities (animal models)
- Drug discovery activities within TMC
- Screening
- Pharmacokinetics
- In vivo, and in vitro
- >7 partnerships with pharma
- 1 license to pharma
- Evaluated over 1,000 compounds at the TMC
Clinical
- 3 programs moved into clinical trials
- Active role (scientific, logistical, funding) in MRF-008 trial for myelin protection
- Creative new clinical trial design
- Manufacture of drug
- Assembled world class Clinical Advisory Board
- Collaborative Research and Development Agreement with the NIH to conduct MRF-008 clinical trial
- Developed deep clinical pipeline