National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Client and community services (see schedule o)client and community services - the Society aims to empower people affected by ms to solve everyday challenges. We feel if people are informed, connected and supported by loved ones, their communities, their healthcare providers and the Society, they will have improved quality of life, increased confidence, make new connections and take positive actions. We achieve this by being a trusted source of support for people living with ms and health care providers through our ms navigator service and the educational programming and connection sites we offer online, in person and on demand or self-service. Ms navigators partner with individuals to navigate the challenges of ms unique to each situation. They provide: information and education; emotional support resources; assist with the complexities of finding a healthcare provider, benefits, insurance and access to coverage, and employment; resources to face financial challenges and plan for the future; wellness strategies that can make an impact on quality of life with ms; assessment of personalized case management; and crisis intervention in times of need. In 2023, ms navigators provided support to 37,996 people. Our self-service applications assisted an additional 168,517 searches for people finding doctors and other resources directly.in addition, 8,068 individuals participated in 120 live educational programs. The program content was also accessible on demand, enabling an additional 157,172 individuals from 82 countries to engage with the material. Topics included progressive ms, managing ms fatigue, bladder dysfunction in ms as well as a variety of topics related to physical and emotional wellness to name a few. In our efforts to connect with more newly diagnosed, young, rural and ethnically diverse people affected by ms the Society continued its new to ms program, 4th annual black ms experience summit and our 2nd annual-hispanic latinx summit.community programs include collaborating with other community organizations, focusing on access to healthcare, rehabilitation, treatments and therapies; long-term care; disability rights issues; vocational training and rehabilitation, wellness and fitness; and outreach and education to rural and underserved populations.

Research and scientific studies (see schedule o)research and scientific studies - in fiscal 2023, the Society invested $33.9 million to support 279 new and ongoing research projects around the world aimed at stopping ms in its tracks, restoring function, and ending the disease forever. The Society engaged 108 expert scientific and peer reviewers to evaluate 313 proposals for research grants, fellowships and early career awards, commercial research and development agreements, and targeted research grants. We also engaged 16 lay community reviewers to help the Society identify the most promising and appropriate research investments.research priority areas to drive breakthroughs to a cure include: accelerating promising research to empower people affected by ms to live their best lives and advance the pathways to ms cures roadmap, including: stopping disease activity and progression through precision medicine and early detection; restoring what's been lost by reversing symptoms and disability through regeneration and functional recovery enhanced by rehabilitation and wellness; and ending the disease through prevention by limiting exposure to risk factors across the population and for those most at-risk.

Public education (see schedule o)public education - people with ms can better manage their disease when they have the support and understanding of the people around them-from doctors to employers to family members. That's why we work relentlessly to tell the world what it means to live with ms. we educate the public through the Society's awareness campaigns, public service announcements, and momentum, which is the Society's flagship magazine distributed quarterly to nearly 500,000 people living with ms, healthcare providers, and supporters of the Society. We send bimonthly emails with news and information about ms to more than 900,000 and nearly 7 million people visit the Society's website each year to access information and support and get involved.in addition, many people get engaged in conversations and learn more about ms via the Society's social media, with more than 1 million followers.

Professional education and training - the Society wants scientists and healthcare professionals to be aware of and trained in ms so that the very best expertise worldwide is engaged in finding treatments and solutions for everyone with ms. This includes activities and programs designed to improve the knowledge, skills, and critical judgement of scientists, physicians and other healthcare professionals engaged (directly or indirectly) in providing services to people living with ms by keeping them abreast of new diagnostic techniques and therapies - 154 clinicians, who provide care for approximately 5,300 people with ms, participated in the echo ms program in 2023. 98% reported they would attend another program sponsored by the Society.