National Multiple Sclerosis Society

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) is a non-profit organization based in New York City with chapters located throughout the United States. The organization's goal is to improve the quality of life for people affected by multiple sclerosis by funding of research, advocating for social and political change, providing education, and sponsoring programs and services that help people with multiple sclerosis and their families.

The NMSS was founded as the Association for Advancement of Research on Multiple Sclerosis,[1] in 1946. Since that time it has become a national, multi-chapter, non-profit organization. It has been rated by Forbes magazine[1] as #63 in the 100 Largest U.S. Charities 2016 Ranking.

Research

The NMSS supports and funds research activities in early research, translational research that develops laboratory results into treatments, and clinical trials to find out whether they are effective in treating MS. In 2012, the Society invested $44 million in more than 350 new and ongoing projects.[3][4]. As of 2016, NMSS has raised $974 million dollars for research[5].

Research rewards consist of several types of contributions to researchers in early to late stages of their careers. The following is a list of awards distributed by NMSS[2] to researchers in 2017.

Research Funding and Grant Programs

Career Transition Fellowship

The Career Transition Fellowship program sponsors postdoctoral training and research funding for scientists who demonstrate a dedication to MS research. Awards are in amounts up to $550,000 for a total of five years of training and research. The training period covers two years and research funding covers three additional years for research in a new faculty position.

Collaborative MS Research Center Awards

The NMSS offers funding to research centers with the intent to promote interaction among researchers. The Collaborative MS Research Center Awards program is intended to create collaboration between MS researchers, including independent investigators, and clinical research organizations. In addition, the program reaches out to professionals working in other fields of research to recruit them into MS research projects.

MS Research Center Awards are obtained through an application process through the NMSS MS Grants web page.

Fast Forward commercial/drug development

Fast Forward is a commercial research funding entity under the NMSS which provides funding for drug development and MS research being conducted through commercial entities such as EMD Pharmaceuticals, the University of Cambridge, the University of Edinburgh, and others. Researchers interested in the program are able to apply for funding through the Commercial Funding Opportunities web page.

Daniel Haughton Senior Faculty Award

This award was named after a member of the Board of Directors of the NMSS. Its purpose was to provide funding for training of MS researchers who needed additional education regarding the disease. As of 2017, this award was on hold[3] and not accepting applications.

Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholarships

Harry Weaver, PhD, was a researcher in the field of neuroscience who had a dedication to MS research. He was the Director of Research at NMSS from 1966 to 1977. The scholarship in his name is offered to provide salary and research funding for a period of five years to researchers who are beginning their careers in MS research. The program is most often supported through universities.

Health Care Delivery & Policy Contracts

The Health Care Delivery and Policy Research (HCDPR) program funds investigators who are conducting research projects which address NMSS organization's priorities. These priorities are listed by the NMSS as funding, quality, outcomes, and costs for care related to MS.

International Progressive MS Alliance

The International Progressive MS Alliance was founded in 2012 as the International Progressive MS Collaborative. The MS Alliance membership is composed of MS organizations from around the world. The Alliance provides two different funding awards, including the Challenge Award[4]and Collaborative Network Award grants. Both grants provide funding over multiple years to researchers and institutions in the international community[5].

Mentor-based Postdoctoral Rehabilitation

This program supports a combination of mentors and MS postdoctoral training institutions to recruit and train MS rehabilitation fellows. Mentors are required to be experienced MS researchers who have an established and active participation in their field. Interested parties must submit an application for the program through the NMSS website.

Participants in the program include the Duke University School of Medicine[6], the Weizmann Institute of Science[7], University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Utah[8], and additional related institutions.

Clinician Scientist Development Award

The American Academy of Neurology and NMSS have partnered to develop this grant program. The program focuses on providing grant funding to MS researchers. One such grant was issued in 2005 to support Dr. Green of the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, whose research focused on the optical nerve and retina in people with MS[9]..

In 2016, the American Academy of Neuroscience Clinician Scientist Development Program[10] awarded $3 million to research and training programs with a focus on neuroscience. The Clinician Scientist Development Award in Multiple Sclerosis was awarded to Joseph Sabatino, MD, PhD at the University of California San Francisco.

Pilot Research Grants

High-risk pilot research programs[10] focus on cutting-edge ideas and methods which have not been tested which may contribute to MS medical research. The Pilot Research Grants provide one year of research funding to pilot programs in order to develop results which can be used to apply for long term funding programs.

Chapters

There are 39 NMSS chapters in the United States. They include the following locations.

Alabama-Mississippi, Birmingham, AL

Greater Northwest, Seattle, WA - Includes Alaska, Northern Idaho, Montana and Washington

Arkansas, Little Rock, AR

Mid South, Brentwood, TN - IncludesTennessee, North Georgia, North Mississippi and Eastern Arkansas

Northern California, San Francisco, CA

Pacific South Coast, San Diego, CA

Southern California and Nevada, Los Angeles, CA.

Colorado-Wyoming, Denver, CO

Connecticut, Hartford, CT

Greater Delaware Valley, Philadelphia, PA - Includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware

Greater DC-Maryland, Washington, DC - Includes Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Mid-Florida, Maitland, FL - Central Florida

North Florida, Jacksonville, FL - Northern Florida

South Florida, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Georgia, Atlanta, GA

Utah-Southern Idaho, Salt Lake City, UT

Gateway Area, St. Louis, MO - Including Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois

Greater Illinois, Chicago, IL

Indiana State, Indianapolis, IN

Kentucky-Southeast Indiana, Louisville, KY

Upper Midwest, Minneapolis, MN - Including Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Western Wisconsin and Nebraska

Mid America, Kansas City, MO - Including Kansas, Western Missouri, Nebraska and Pottawattamie County, IA

Ohio Valley, Cincinnati, OH - Including Southern Ohio/Northern Kentucky

Louisiana, Metairie, LA

Greater New England, Waltham, MA - Including Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont

Michigan, Southfield, MI

New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

Texas, Houston, TX

Long Island, Melville, NY - Including Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York

New York City – Southern New York, New York, NY (Headquarters)

Upstate New York, Rochester, NY

Greater Carolinas, Raleigh, NC, Including North Carolina and South Carolina

Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK

Virginia - West Virginia, Glen Allen, VA

Fundraising

The NMSS receives support from the following sources:

Supporting organizations

Corporate partners

The NMSS receives support from national, state, and local corporate sponsors. These sponsors include the following companies.

Individuals and foundations

 Competitive teams

Criticism of NMSS

Criticism by former employees

Glassdoor

Former employees of NMSS have made complaints about working for the organization. On the website Glassdoor.com, the company has received a rating of 2.9 out of 5 stars[11]. While some former employees did state that the organization demonstrated passion for supporting research and fundraising for MS, a majority claimed that the company offered low wages for employment. In addition, they also showed agreement that the company is understaffed and that senior leadership in the company has not been performing their duties satisfactorily, or demonstrating responsible management practices. Some comments suggested that the leadership was dishonest.

Indeed

The website Indeed.com did have more positive claims about NMSS, including reinforcement for the organizations support for research and funding[12]. Many reviews stated that the employees had enjoyed their coworkers and their work. The most common complaint, however, was that the company is understaffed. In addition, former employees complained that management did a poor job of leading.

Ruckus Sports, LLC vs. NMSS

On October 26, 2012, Ruckus Sports, LLC filed a legal suit against the National Multiple Sclerosis Society complaining that the organization committed Trademark Infringement for its use of "Muckruckus MS" as the name for its adventure race fundraising event. Ruckus Sports claimed that the Ruckus Trademark had been advertised and used for marketing their adventure charity races since September of 2010. The NMSS filed a trademark application for "Muckruckus MS" on November 21, 2011.

The legal complaint, under Case No. 91207735-OPP, was filed in Massachusetts, claiming that the NMSS had committed one count of Federal Trademark Infringement Under 15 U.S.C. § 1125[13], one count of Federal Unfair Competition[14], one count of State Common Law Trademark Infringement under Massachusetts Law[15], and one count of Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices and Unfair Methods of Competition in Violation of Massachusetts General Law c. 93A[16]. According to the website PlainSite.com, there were 7 filings in the case, in which the NMSS filed a withdrawal of the Trademark application in January of 2013. The website shows that the case was dismissed by the court on January 29, 2013.

References

  1. ↑ "National Multiple Sclerosis Society on the Forbes The 100 Largest U.S. Charities List". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  2. ↑ "List of Current Research Projects Funded by the National MS Society" (PDF). National Multiple Sclerosis Society. January, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ↑
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ "International Progressive MS Alliance |". www.progressivemsalliance.org. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  6. ↑ "Mentor-Based Postdoctoral Fellowship in Rehabilitation Research | Research Funding". researchfunding.duke.edu. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  7. ↑ "National Multiple Sclerosis Society". www.weizmann.ac.il. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  8. ↑ "Home - Office of Sponsored Projects - The University of Utah". osp.utah.edu. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  9. ↑ "AAN Foundation, National MS Society Partner for Clinician Scientist Development Award". www.aan.com. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  10. 1 2 Neurology, American Academy of. "Announcing the 2016 American Academy of Neurology Research Program Recipients". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  11. ↑ "National Multiple Sclerosis Society Reviews". Glassdoor. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  12. ↑ "Working at National Multiple Sclerosis Society: 62 Reviews | Indeed.com". www.indeed.com. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  13. ↑ "15 U.S.C. 1125 - False designations of origin, false descriptions, and dilution forbidden". www.gpo.gov. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  14. ↑ "15 U.S.C. 45 - Unfair methods of competition unlawful; prevention by Commission". www.gpo.gov. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  15. ↑ "Section 14". malegislature.gov. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  16. ↑ "Section 11". malegislature.gov. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
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