A message from our Foundation chair
by Esther M. Land |
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As we move toward year-end, the Foundation continues to pursue avenues of research to find the cause of myasthenia gravis, as well as to uncover improved treatment modalities that enhance the quality of life for myasthenia patients.
Having lived with MG for over 45 years, I am amazed at the advances that have been made in the understanding and treatment of MG. Fifty years ago, the issues were whether the problem occurred at the pre-synaptic or post-synaptic nerve ending and the controversy of when and with which method a thymectomy should be performed. Treatment modalities primarily focused on enhancing the synapse at the neuromuscular junction.
As the understanding of immunology increased, so did the relationship to the autoimmune factor in myasthenia. This prompted the use of immunosuppressive agents, plasma exchange, and IVIg. Today, researchers continue to delve into other treatments via clinical trials on drugs such as Monarsen and Enbril® (etanercept) and into the potential use of drugs like tacrolimus and rituximab.
While I have quickly recapped the progression that took place, none of this would have happened without the intense searching, collaboration, and sharing of each new finding among the researchers and scientists. That is why, in addition to ongoing research at medical centers around the world, the annual Scientific Sessions and quinquennial International Conference on Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders play such important roles in our Foundation’s research endeavors. A summary of the presentations at the Scientific Session held in Chicago on October 7, 2006 is available on our Web site (www.myasthenia.org). The presentations given at the next International Conference—scheduled for May 14-16, 2007 in Chicago—will be published in a bound annal by The New York Academy of Sciences, co-sponsor of the event with MGFA.
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Your support of these endeavors through your financial gift designated “research” would be appreciated. |
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A message from our Chief Executive
by Jan Golden, Chief Executive, MGFA |
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We are approaching the halfway point in the MGFA program year, and it’s good to look back on what we have accomplished so far. It’s even more exciting to think how much more we can get accomplished in the remaining months!
The Foundation’s vision is very clear: a “World without MG.” I would like to let you know what we’re doing to realize that vision at the national level through the work of the national Board of Directors, the Nursing Advisory Board, and the Medical/Scientific Advisory Board. This issue of Foundation Focus will highlight research fellowships, ongoing clinical trials, and reviews of the recent Scientific Session; future activities are highlighted in a preview of the International Conference and an update on the 2007 Annual Meeting.
A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a family member of an MG patient. He commented that the majority of our materials and information about the disease did not make him feel hopeful about the search for a cure, treatment, or prevention of MG. I realized that, while we focus on patient care and support, we are neglecting our responsibility to keep everyone informed on the new and exciting research into treatment, diagnosis, and a cure taking place here and around the world. These are exciting times for the MG community!
The future in MG research is looking even brighter than before. Applications for the 2007 Post-Doctoral Fellowship reached an all-time high with nine well-qualified researchers vying for this prestigious award. When the 2006 “Chapter Challenge” meets its ambitious goal, it will ensure ongoing research, and the overall success of the MGFA’s development initiatives will secure the support of research projects into the future.
I met with members of the MGFA Medical/Scientific Advisory Board at their board meeting in Chicago. I was struck by the intense commitment and focus of these physicians and researchers to develop more effective diagnostic tools, improve treatment, and—overall—to find a cure. Our support of their initiatives is crucial to reaching our goal.
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While 2006 may be winding down, with the help of the MG community, MGFA will increase its efforts to further its research programs and secure sustainable funding for tomorrow’s endeavors. Together we are stronger. |
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Update on MG research initiatives and funding
by Robert Pascuzzi, M.D., Chair, Medical/Scientific Advisory Board |
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MGFA Student Fellowships (formerly Henry R. Viets Fellowships)
Three students were awarded a Student Fellowship for the summer of the 2005-6 year.
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Iris Wingrove, University of Texas Medical Branch, under the direction of Premkumar Christadoss M.D. with the topic Ocular experimental MG progresses to generalized MG by epitope spread.
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Gina Eom, University of British Columbia, under the direction of Joel Oger D en M, FRCPC. Her work reviews the clinical characteristics as well as the results of patients who had “a false positive” acetylcholine receptor antibody level. |
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Lindsay Knudsen, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, under the direction of Deborah E. Renard PhD: Her topic addresses the effects of psychological counseling of people with myasthenia gravis. |
Student awards for the 2006-7 year are in the process of application and review.
A paper in the journal Neurology discusses research funded by an MGFA Student Fellowship. The work deals with a study on sleep apnea in MG. The paper, entitled “Sleep apnea in patients with myasthenia gravis,” presents the results of the study performed in London, Ontario. The medical student, Sara Rask, coordinated this important and clinically relevant research under the guidance of Dr. Nicolle.
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...knowing the trigger for the disease may allow for a new opportunity or strategy for treatment as well as preventative options. |
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MGFA Post-Doctoral Fellowships (formerly Osserman/Sosin/McClure Fellowships)
2006 Awards
The MGFA MSAB Research Committee chaired by Dr. Dan Drachman has recommended funding of the following two new research proposals (for 2006-7):
Dr. Amir Sabouri, M.D., Ph.D. (Research Associate, from the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, in the lab of Professor Nora Sarvetnick, Ph.D.) has a research project entitled Role of BAFF in the Development of Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis (EAMG). These investigators will use a mouse model to determine the role of BAFF as a key factor in the development of MG. This type of research aims to clarify the key steps or ingredients that might explain how and why MG develops. The investigators hypothesize that:
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The BAFF molecule is involved in the occurrence of clinical EAMG. |
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Mice with BAFF deficiency are less susceptible or resistant to EAMG. |
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Over-expression of BAFF in EAMG-susceptible mice accelerates in incidence and severity of the disease. |
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BAFF inhibition attenuates the EAMG development. |
From the clinician’s and patient’s standpoint, the importance of this research is in knowing what triggers the immune system to initiate the disease. The work has significant clinical implications, as knowing the trigger for the disease may allow for a new opportunity or strategy for treatment as well as preventative options.
Dr. Chih-Te Wu, M.D., from The University of California Davis, has the research project “Is Glutathione or Another Sulfhydryl-Reducing Agent the Trigger of Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis?” The trigger of idiopathic autoimmune MG remains an unsolved riddle. Why is it that only one in 10,000 people develop MG? We need to clarify the fundamental trigger that disrupts our normal immunological tolerance for the acetylcholine receptor and leads to the production of acetylcholine receptor antibodies. Such information will provide new opportunities to treat MG and perhaps prevent it from starting. Certain drugs, such as penicillamine, are known to cause autoimmune MG in occasional patients. Based on prior research of the mechanism for drug-induced MG, Dr. Wu is exploring similar mechanisms that could prove to be the “trigger” or “switch” that turns on the disease. Not only is it essential that we discover the underlying trigger for MG but, from a practical standpoint, such information should be expected to provide us with new strategies to treat MG—and perhaps even prevent it from occurring. It is certainly possible that, if the switch that turns the disease on is located, then a method of turning the switch off will follow.
Second-Year Funding
The 2005-2006 Post-Doctoral fellow Jing Li, M.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston has applied for a second year of funding for the project entitled Ocular Myasthenia Gravis in HLA Transgenic mice. Role of DAF. His mentor is Premkumar Christadoss, M.D., Ph.D. The investigator has provided the MSAB with an update on the status of this research and the rationale for continued work and funding. The MSAB Research Committee chaired by Dr. Drachman has recommended approval and funding for a second year of this research. We anticipate important new insight into the fundamental steps in the development and regulation of ocular MG based on this research. Furthermore, this work has therapeutic implications.
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Investigators like Dr. Sabouri, Dr. Wu, and Dr. Li are asking the right questions, and the MSAB is excited about the prospects of these research projects having a major impact on our understanding and treatment of MG. |
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Study of thymectomy for treatment of myasthenia gravis
by Henry Kaminski, MD, Vice Chair and Professor of Neurology and Professor of Neurosciences at Case Western Reserve University |
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A study of biomarkers in myasthenia gravis, referred to as BioMG, will be performed as part of the National Institutes of Health supported Myasthenia Gravis Thymectomy trial (MGTX; see MGFA newsletter Foundation Focus Spring 2005 and http://www.soph.uab.edu/mgtx/). Biomarkers are objective measures—they do not depend on a physician’s assessment or a patient’s complaints. They usually relate to how severe a disease is. Therefore, a physician can use a biomarker to determine how a patient is doing. For example, the acetylcholine receptor antibody found in the blood of patients is a biomarker of MG. Acetylcholine receptor antibodies serve to confirm the diagnosis of MG and, at best, only poorly correlate with the severity of MG. When first discovered in MG patients, acetylcholine receptor antibodies provided new understanding of how MG causes weakness.
BioMG will evaluate three basic biomarkers: (1) genes (called single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs), (2) gene expression (the message genes produce), and (3) proteins using patient blood. SNPs serve as “mileposts” of the human genome. We know that there is not one gene that determines if a person is going to get MG. However, the investigators suspect that there are a number of genes that can raise the risk of getting MG. It is expected that certain SNPs or groups of SNPs will be associated with the diagnosis of MG or possibly predict response to treatment or perhaps even certain side effects. Gene expression patterns evaluate which genes are turned on (expressed) or not. Perhaps there are gene expression patterns that, because of their presence or their level of activity, can influence how patients respond to treatment. Ultimately, genes direct the expression of proteins, which are the critical building blocks of all cells and tissues of the body. Proteins in the blood of patients will also be tested and correlations made to MG diagnosis and response to treatment during the MGTX study.
Drs. Henry J. Kaminski and Gary Cutter, who are part of the Executive Committee of MGTX, will be directing the effort in collaboration with Dr. Henry McFarland of the Intramural Program of National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The investigators think the results of the biomarker study will provide novel insights into MG.
An MGFA-funded study
MGFA is funding a critical ancillary study directly related to the BioMG study. These funds will provide assistance to Drs. Alex Marx and Phillipp Stroebel of the University of Heidelberg in collaboration with the Myasthenia Gravis Thymectomy trial investigators to produce a classification of the thymus removed as part of the MGTX study. The original MGFA Task Force to assess Clinical Research Standards noted the absence of guidelines for the evaluation of the non-thymomatous thymus removed from patients with MG and recommended the development of a classification system to help understand how the abnormal thymus is related to the cause of MG. Linking this study to the MGTX and BioMG is likely to lead to greater insights into MG than could be done otherwise. |
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This article is a follow-up to a previous piece on thymectomy for treatment of myasthenia gravis (See Foundation Focus, Spring 2005, Study of Thymectomy for Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis), which reported that physician-scientists from throughout the world were joining together to study thymectomy for the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Since thymectomy first became an accepted therapy for MG, studies of thymectomy have not clearly determined whether surgery or other medical treatments, like prednisone, have helped the patient most. Recently, the MGFA Board of Directors pledged additional support to the MSAB to allow further studies into thymectomy. |
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Pregnancy and MG: a mother’s story
by Wendy Gazo, Jim L Walker Arizona Chapter of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc. |
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Wendy and
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Shortly before I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, I found out that I was pregnant. I was so excited to start a family that I did not care about the symptoms I was experiencing with MG. I was seeing changes in my health on a daily basis. My first experience with pregnancy was unsuccessful, resulting in a miscarriage. My MG only worsened as I was diagnosed and eventually led to my hospitalization for 10 days, including my thymectomy.
Through it all, I was still determined to start a family when my MG became more under control. My neurologist reassured me that I could have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. The risks involved were that 33% of women with MG who become pregnant get better, 33% get worse, and 33% stay the same. At that point, all I wanted was to become healthy enough to start my family.
I was 28 years old when I was diagnosed with MG and had been married for three years. My husband and I agreed that we would wait until my disease was somewhat under control before we would start a family. About a year and a half after having my thymus gland successfully removed, I became pregnant. Over the next 38 weeks, I experienced only one episode of MG symptoms a couple of months into my pregnancy. However, it was a very hot summer in Arizona, and I had overexerted myself. The symptoms of slurred speech and some double vision returned for about three days. Increasing the prednisone I was taking helped my symptoms and I was back on track to a healthy pregnancy.
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For the remainder of my pregnancy, I felt completely healthy and have been “symptom free” for almost one year. My dreams came true when our son was born! He was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for a three-day observation by the neonatologist who was present during the delivery. He did not experience any symptoms of MG and he is growing to be a beautiful, healthy boy. I would highly recommend experiencing the beautiful gift of birth with having MG. I plan to have more children and hope to encounter the same results as I have already been blessed with. I do believe you should be as healthy as possible when trying to get pregnant. I was well aware of the risks involved going into my pregnancy, but the outcome that I have experienced has truly outweighed the risks involved. I could not imagine my life without baby Gavin. |
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Pets and immuno-suppressed people
by Robyn Spearot, MS |
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...there are some good standard practices that should be followed to assure your health and the health of your animal. |
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Pets have long been known to be an invaluable asset by contributing to the health and well-being of their owners. Many studies have shown that pets can mediate depression, lower blood pressure, enhance physical activity levels, increase interaction rates with other people and provide companionship. For people who suffer from debilitating health conditions, having a pet may be a source of comfort and support like no other. After all, pets provide unconditional love, regardless of our limitations or special needs.
People who are immuno-suppressed have special circumstances that must be considered when caring for their pets. Due to increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections, immuno-suppressed individuals have a higher risk of catching a zoonotic infection (a disease that is transmittable from an animal to a human). While this risk is low in healthy domesticated animals, precautions should be observed to prevent zoonosis from occurring. Both your veterinarian and personal physician are excellent sources for information on this topic, particularly as it relates to your personal situation.
The positive benefits of having a pet far outweigh the risks for people who are immuno-suppressed. However, there are some good standard practices that should be followed to assure your health and the health of your animal.
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Just like you, your pet requires routine health care. This should include immunizations, physical examinations, and flea/tick/parasite control. Flea and tick control is essential, as these are known carriers of zoonotic disease. Cats should be screened for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus. While these diseases are not transmittable to humans, they can make your pet more susceptible to other diseases that are transmittable to people. If your pet develops symptoms of illness, such as coughing, sneezing, or diarrhea, they should be seen by their veterinarian.
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Although everyone loves kittens and puppies, an animal that is over a year old may be a better choice because they are less likely to scratch and bite. Wild or exotic animals are not recommended for the same reasons. Be sure to keep your animal’s nails trimmed and, if necessary, consider declawing. If you are scratched, you should immediately clean the wound and report any signs of infection to your physician.
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It is highly recommended that an immuno-suppressed individual not come in contact with any animal waste. However, if this is not possible, precautions should be taken to prevent disease transmission. Rubber gloves and a disposable face mask are recommended for wear when cleaning fish tanks, rodent cages, bird cages, cat boxes, or the dog’s run/cage. Disposable box and cage liners will minimize contact with waste. Daily litter box maintenance will reduce risk of contracting toxoplasmosis from your cat. Always keep the cat box away from eating or food preparation areas. Wear rubber gloves when working in the garden to reduce contact with animal droppings. Do not allow your pet to lick your face, and always wash your hands after handling your pet.
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Always provide your pet with a clean and healthy food source. Commercially-prepared foods are nutritionally superior to “home cooking” and reduce the risks associated with undercooked, spoiled, or improperly stored foods. Do not allow your pet to hunt live animals or eat raw meat. Clean water is essential to your animal’s health. Discourage your pet from drinking from toilets or sources of standing water, as these may transmit zoonotic diseases.
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When kenneling or boarding your animal, be sure to choose an environment that is clean and well-supervised. Dogs are particularly susceptible to contracting “kennel cough” in group boarding arrangements. This respiratory infection can be transmitted to immuno-suppressed people.
- Do not approach animals that you are not familiar with or if you are unsure of their health status. Keep your own pets indoors and, if they must go outside, be sure to use a leash or supervise them closely.
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Pets can be an unending source of entertainment and joy and have many positive health benefits. With proper care and supervision of their animals and conscientious personal hygiene, immuno-suppressed individuals will reduce the likelihood of contracting any zoonotic infections. |
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Planned giving
by Jan Golden, Chief Executive, MGFA |
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Three years after being diagnosed with MG, David Cummings named MGFA as beneficiary of his estate. Forty-five years later, his vision of an endowment for research into MG has been realized. His vision ensures future research into myasthenia gravis.
David Cummings—and people like him—think about what they can do in the present that will help others tomorrow. This is planned giving. Planned giving can be as complex as a research endowment or as simple as naming your favorite charity in your will.
There are many advantages to thinking ahead and making a planned gift. Can you think of a better way to thank the people or organizations that have had an impact on your life than to make a contribution from your estate through a bequest? Giving to a charitable organization through your will or a variety of other planned giving options can benefit both your loved ones and the organization you choose to donate to. Through various planned giving options, you may be able to:
- Reduce the size of your taxable estate, easing the tax burden for your loved ones.
- Save on income tax right now and in the future.
- Avoid capital gains taxes.
- Reduce or avoid estate taxes.
Seeking competent legal assistance will help make setting up a planned gift simple. Estate planning based on your own financial circumstances can ensure that your assets go to the charity of your choice. Talk to your attorney and ask him or her to help you make the right choices for your planned gift.
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Please consider naming the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc. in your estate planning. Like David Cummings, your generosity and foresight will make a difference in the lives of so many living with MG. |
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Announcing National Campaign Chairperson for the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc. |
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Actress Robin Wright Penn has teamed up with MGFA to help increase awareness of MG and chair the national fundraising campaign.
“We are excited to have Robin Wright Penn join as MGFA Campaign spokesperson,” says Esther Land, Chairperson of the MGFA Board of Directors. “Robin has been personally touched by a family member’s diagnosis of MG and has pledged to help raise the much-needed funding for research.”
Robin is best known to movie-goers as “Jenny” in “Forrest Gump,” for which she received Golden Globe and Screen Actor’s Guild Award nominations for her supporting role opposite Tom Hanks. She made her motion picture debut in Rob Reiner’s cult classic, “The Princess Bride,” before appearing in supporting roles opposite some of Hollywood’s greatest actors, including Sean Penn and Gary Oldman in “State of Grace,” Albert Finney and Aidan Quinn in “The Playboys,” and Robin Williams in “Toys.” Wright Penn has since become one of cinema’s most acclaimed actors.
Robin first heard of myasthenia gravis when her grandmother was diagnosed with the disease. “As to what she had, no one could give us an answer. It was only when Dr. Wolfe, her physician, told us that she had myasthenia gravis that we were able to find out how to help her. At last we all knew what she was dealing with. At the same time, we also learned about research that was helping develop treatments and find a cure.”
Robin and her family are committed to helping MGFA realize its vision: a world without MG. “I want to let people know that MG can strike anyone—you, me, your neighbor. There’s a lot we need to learn about the disease, and how to diagnose it faster and more accurately, and we need a cure.”
“We welcome Robin Wright Penn’s commitment to help us meet our goals. Research is crucial to finding a cure and improving the lives of those with the disease,” states Dr. Robert Pascuzzi, MGFA Medical/Scientific Advisory Board Chair and Professor and Chairman of Neurology at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
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“Every day, MGFA provides answers to questions, patient support, and—above all—research,” states Wright Penn. “That’s why I am proud to be the National Campaign Chairperson for the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America.” |
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Across the country, great things are happening!
by Mat Spaan, MGFA Chapter/Patient Services Coordinator |
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Did you know that December 5th was officially International Volunteer Day? According to the World Volunteer Web (www.worldvolunteerweb.org/), this day quite obviously gives us all an opportunity to celebrate the work and contributions to society that volunteers accomplish every day. (For all that volunteers do for us, perhaps we need a full International Volunteer Month!)
Throughout the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc., we are especially aware of the great things that volunteers do for us every day. MGFA is guided by volunteers, our major events are manned by volunteers, and our Medical/Scientific Advisory Board and Nurses Advisory Board are completely volunteer-based. At our chapter level, volunteers are just as important, with nearly 90% of our chapters run exclusively by devoted volunteers. From our chapters’ support groups, newsletters, and speaker events to their daily office operations, volunteers play an integral role.
Nearly all that is accomplished by MGFA across the country is through the dedication, drive, and indefatigable efforts of our volunteers.
And guess what? All of our volunteers are individuals such as you, your family, and your friends. Suffice it say, then, that MGFA is highly reliant upon you.
So please make sure you have something to celebrate next December 5th—join us in our efforts to beat MG by volunteering for a chapter near you. You can find a listing of our chapters through our Web site at www.myasthenia.org/chapters or by calling the national office at 1-800-541-5454.
I have included below some examples of volunteer opportunities that our chapters are currently recruiting for. Many other opportunities are certainly available by contacting a chapter directly.
The Myasthenia Gravis Association of Kansas City is actively seeking volunteers and contacts throughout Missouri and Kansas. The chapter is working hard to expand the reach of all of its services throughout the region. To find out more about how you can help, contact the chapter at (816) 256-4100 or mgakc@sbcglobal.net.
Our Maryland/District of Columbia/Delaware Chapter (2006 Chapter of the Year!) is actively recruiting volunteers to help with their support group activities within the Maryland and DC areas. To find out what you can do to help, please contact them at maryland@myasthenia.org or call the national office at 1-800-541-5454.
Our East Central Florida Chapter is working towards becoming the premier nationwide chapter for children with MG and their families. To further this goal, they are looking to reach out to any and all families with children diagnosed with MG. If you are interested in finding out more about this project and how you can assist, please contact them at (386) 586-2891 or eastflorida@myasthenia.org.
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Within our Wisconsin Chapter, there are tons of opportunities for volunteers. From office administration or assisting with their “help line” to assisting with their newsletter or providing technical assistance, the chapter has a wide variety of opportunities available to motivated volunteers. To help, contact the chapter at (262) 938-9800 or wisconsin@myasthenia.org.
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2006 Scientific Session summary
by Robert L. Ruff, MD, PhD |
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The annual Scientific Session of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc. (MGFA) was held on October 6, 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The session was organized by Dr. Gil Wolfe.
MGFA supports two types of research and educational grants. The Student Fellowship is targeted to healthcare professionals in training. This award provides monies to expose healthcare professionals to clinical or basic science research in MG via a short term research project. The Post-Doctoral Fellowship provides support for training in basic science or clinical research in MG. Both fellowships are designed to get promising healthcare professionals interested in MG so that these individuals will direct their future energies toward elucidating the cause, improving treatment, and developing a cure for MG.
The 2006 Scientific Session demonstrated the success of the fellowships. Several presentations were given by former MGFA fellows, and a discussion was held of the ongoing international clinical trial on thymectomy. There were thirteen presentations from around the world, including 11 talks and two posters. Many of the presentations related to immunology and seronegative MG (clinical MG in individuals who do not have antibodies [Ab] against the acetylcholine receptor [AChR] and clinical observations in people with MG).
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Brief reviews of the presentations are available online at www.myasthenia.org/research/. |
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11th International Conference on Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders |
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Together with the New York Academy of Sciences, MGFA is pleased to announce the dates of the 11th International Conference on Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders. This prestigious meeting will be held at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, May 14-16th, 2007.
The specific objectives of this meeting are to provide a forum for basic and clinical investigators to explore new findings in myasthenia gravis research. Advances in MG research are likely to be applicable to other diseases. Information from biochemistry, structural biology, cellular and molecular neuroscience, pharmacology, immunology, and clinical neurology will be presented, with the goal of integrating information from all disciplines. This conference will provide expertise from investigators outside MG to enhance investigative approaches to myasthenia gravis and related disorders. Additionally, it will allow junior and senior members of the research groups to interact and get to know others in the field. In this way, future collaborations may be fostered.
Complete program details are available on the MGFA Web site, www.myasthenia.org.
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The importance of this conference to MGFA cannot be overstated. It brings leaders in MG research from around the world together to share and discuss the advancements and discoveries in this field. If you would like to personally support the conference, we encourage you to donate by sending your check to the MGFA national office or by going online at www.myasthenia.org and clicking on “How can I help.” |
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MGFA 2007 Annual Meeting
of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.
April 19-21, 2007
Doubletree Crystal City – Arlington, Virginia
Together we are stronger.
We are pleased to announce that the 2007 MGFA Annual Meeting will be held at the Crystal City Doubletree Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. While the program is currently still in the planning stages, we expect the agenda to be filled with the excellent presentations and information sharing opportunities that you have come to expect at the Annual Meeting. We anticipate content to include updates on research, treatment, and diagnosis, as well as programs for the newly diagnosed and their families. Details on the program, your opportunity to register, and information on how to make your hotel reservations will be available soon.
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Please feel free to visit the hotel’s Web site for details on the location and the surrounding attractions, such as the Capitol, the White House, the Smithsonian Museum, and many world-famous museums and monuments. Visit the Doubletree at www.doubletreecrystalcity.com. |
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The MGFA national office received 200 phone calls and 204 e-mails during the month of October. |
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International Conference on Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders
May 14–16, 2007
Chicago, Illinois
Hosted by the New York Academy of Science and the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.
MGFA Annual Meeting
April 19-21, 2007
Arlington, Virginia
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MGFA Board of Directors Meeting
January 19, 2007
Tampa, Florida |
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MGFA is proud to be a member of the following associations:
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Make a gift to MGFA |
It’s simple!
Visit www.myasthenia.org/
mgfa/helping.htm and use either the online or the mail-in donation form to submit your donation.
Your dollars will help support medical research about myasthenia gravis, providing printed material to those struggling with myasthenia gravis, keeping the lights on in the home office, and so much more.
Your gift is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Thank you for your support! |
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| Foundation Focus is published quarterly by Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc. If this issue was sent to you, you are on our subscriber list. If you would like to add, remove or update a subscription, or request that you receive future issues by mail, please contact the MGFA national office. |
1821 University Ave W, Ste S256
St. Paul, MN 55104-2897
(800) 541-5454
(651) 917-1835 fax
mgfa@myasthenia.org
www.myasthenia.org
The MGFA mission is to facilitate the timely diagnosis and optimal care of individuals affected by Myasthenia Gravis and closely related disorders and to improve their lives through programs of patient services, public information, medical research, professional education, advocacy and patient care.
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