Multiple Sclerosis, a multidisciplinary approach.

The FWO WOG Multiple Sclerosis is a network that brings together Flemish scientists and clinicians researching multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. MS is a demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system with an inflammatory and neurodegenerative component. It is the most common neurological disorder in young people in Western Europe that affects about 1 in 1000 people. The disease is incurable and has a major medical and socio-economic impact. Current medication remains ineffective and often has serious side effects. Given the complexity of the disease, and the disappointing progress in the development of efficacious medication, a drastic change is required in the scientific approach. In this context, teams with scientific expertise in multidisciplinary aspects must work together in a multi- and interdisciplinary way to gain insight into the disease mechanism and to develop better treatments. Although there was already a strong network of MS research groups in neighboring countries, this was not the case in Flanders until the establishment of the FWO WOG-MS, although several excellent Flemish research groups work on different aspects of MS. To promote cooperation and interaction between these groups, the WOG-MS was established in 2010 using FWO funding. This has led to a strong growth of cooperation among the participating research groups. This is evident from the joint project applications, publications and the multiple exchange of pre- and postdoctoral researchers. In addition, this has led to increased interaction with Flemish clinical centers, foreign MS networks and MS patients. The establishment of the FWO WOG-MS has ensured that MS research in Flanders currently has a greater international reputation. The FWO funding for the research community enables us to strengthen the network by expanding the collaboration between the partner groups and increasing the national and international visibility of the network. It is becoming increasingly clear that proper insight into all aspects of MS is essential for the development of more effective therapies. Consultation between groups that investigate different aspects of the disease through a multidisciplinary approach will therefore lead to innovative insights and efficient development of more targeted therapies.

Keywords:MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

Disciplines:Laboratory medicine, Palliative care and end-of-life care, Regenerative medicine, Other basic sciences, Other clinical sciences, Other health sciences, Nursing, Other paramedical sciences, Other translational sciences, Other medical and health sciences

Project type:Collaboration project