This week, the National MS Society announced that they learned the MS Research Program (MSRP) which was part of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) in the Department of Defense will not be funded in 2025. This is a big blow to research programs working to find a cure, and slow the progression, of multiple sclerosis.
I know it’s odd to find out the Department of Defense (DoD) funds medical research, but it’s been there since 2009. The MSRP’s vision is “to protect, cure, reverse or slow the progression – a lessen the personal and society impact – on multiple sclerosis.” The research programs are high-risk, high-reward programs that the NIH does not traditionally take up. Additionally, people with MS serve on the MSRP peer and programmatic review panels that make decisions about the research it funds – I think that is so important that our community has a voice.
The MSRP is also very relevant to the DoD. The Military Health System showed that between 2013 and 2022, over 5,000 members of the military received a MS diagnosis. During the same time, almost 156,000 DoD beneficiaries, such as family members, received a MS diagnosis. And, since 1999, 50,000 veterans have gotten an MS diagnosis according the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Those are huge numbers, and it makes sense for the DoD to dig into research to find out why this may be happening, right?
Funding through the MSRP has led to 13 clinical trials, 3 issued patents, 370 peer-reviewed scientific papers and has helped many people through the findings. I’m going to be going to Capitol Hill next week as part of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Public Policy Conference to advocate for this funding to be restored in 2026 – we’ve already lost it for 2025.
If you are interested in helping to advocate for the MSRP funding to be restored you can sign up to advocate here: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/advocate/become-an-ms-activist/join-ms-activist-network.
You can also send me a note with your story, especially if you are a veteran or if you grew up near a military base like I did.
I’ll update you when I’m back from Capitol Hill.