Today the MS Society announces funding for the second stage of multiple sclerosis research into myelin repair, to be conducted at the MS Society Cambridge Centre for Myelin Repair.   

Key results from the first stage of the research were published in the journal Nature Neuroscience in December 2010 and found damage to myelin - which results in MS symptoms and long term disability - could be reversed in rats with an MS-like condition. 

The groundbreaking findings were led by Professor Robin Franklin and his team at the Cambridge Centre for Myelin Repair, based at the University of Cambridge, who worked in collaboration with scientists based at the MS Society Edinburgh Centre for Translational Research.  

The MS Society has this week committed more than £2 million over the next five years to fund the second stage of the research, which includes plans for a clinical trial.  Having found a possible treatment to reverse damage to myelin, the team in Cambridge will now look at: 

• testing this potential treatment for its effectiveness and dosage levels
• safety aspects of the potential treatment
• building on recent advances in myelin repair research, making it possible to identify more potential MS treatments in the future  

The next stage of the project is due to start in April 2011. 

There are currently no treatments to reverse the damage to myelin in MS; this treatment, if proved successful, could change the way the condition is treated in the future.  

Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the MS Society, said: "We've been consistently impressed with the world class work of the Cambridge Centre for Myelin Repair and we're delighted that the generosity of our supporters enables us to continue funding this outstanding research centre." 

Robin Franklin, Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Cambridge Centre for Myelin Repair, said: ""Regenerative therapies are the missing link in MS treatment and I am immensely grateful to the MS Society for their continuing support as we work towards this goal." 

For more information on research funded by the MS Society, go to www.mssociety.org.uk/research.