The Program in Multiple Sclerosis
Mission: 1) to provide the best possible treatment for individuals and their family members suffering from multiple sclerosis. 2) To educate the community and community based physicians in the recognition and care of patients with MS. 3) To further knowledge in MS and its treatment through basic and clinical research.
The Clinical program:
At Wake Forest University Health Science Center there is a dedicated MS center that is affiliated with the MS Society. Patients are seen Monday through Friday and evaluated by physicians specializing in research and treatment in MS. The MS clinic has been in operation since 1994 and follows over 4000 patients with MS. The patient population is derived from locations throughout the southeast United States including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The emphasis in clinic is on improving the functional abilities of the patient and on maintaining those abilities. There is extensive experience at the clinic with the standard immunomodulatory therapies and with rescue therapies including Tysabri and Mitoxantrone. We are an internationally recognized MS center and affiliated with the National MS Society. Ancillary services available through the clinic include physical and occupational therapy, social work, nursing support, home health, neuropsychiatric evaluation, and counseling.
The Research Program:
Numerous clinical trials are available through the clinical program. Several phase III trials are available and actively enrolling patients for oral medications. These include Laquinimod, Fingolimod, and Cladribine. A number of other clinical trials will be available in the near future including a Campath trial and the Atacicept trial. We also run active neuroimaging research program that focuses on the use of sophisticated MRI techniques to study neuroprotection in MS and in other neurological disease states. The MRI techniques in use include spectroscopy, diffusion tensor imaging, and magnetization transfer imaging.
Douglas Jeffery, M.D.,Ph.D
Richard Jackson, M.D.
Veronica Abbott, N.P.
Sue Hamilton R.N.
Jenny Poole N.A.
Nancy Lawlor L.P.N.
Docia James
Ying Xiong