LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases (AFRFND) seeks to identify the actual root cause of neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), ALS and Parkinson’s, and to find safe and effective treatments. AFRFND partnered with the International Society for Neurovascular Disease (ISNVD) to target the projects which seem most likely to benefit patients quickly. AFRFND will announce this year’s grant recipients at ISNVD’s annual meeting (3/28/15) in Naples, Italy.
Previous AFRFND grant recipients include the following researchers: Stanford’sMichael Dake, Wayne State University’sE. Mark Haacke, SUNY at Buffalo’sRovert Zivadinov and Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, The University of Bradford (UK)'s Clive Beggs, and the University of Ferrara (Italy)'s Paolo Zamboni . With other leading scholars, they founded ISNVD to advance the diagnosis, understanding and therapy of neurovascular disease with particular attention to the role of veins outside the brain and spine.
Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) was proposed by Dr. Zamboni 5 years ago as an important factor in diseases like MS. It suggests that when there are significant outflow obstructions in the veins serving the brain and spine damage occurs. AFRFND support calls attention to ISNVD and fosters interest from others, who bring support and collaboration to help refine the needed technologies.
Zamboni’s CCSVI theory, has generated hundreds of scientific papers and several large clinical trials. “Evidence has been strengthened and criticism has been answered,” says Dr. Zamboni. New methods involving MRI, ultrasound, plethysmography, balloon angioplasty and open vein surgery are being refined to diagnose and treat CCSVI more effectively.
NASA is currently conducting a CCSVI experiment with Italian Astronaut, Samantha Cristoforetti, called Drain Brain at the International Space Station (ISS). Astronauts experience MS-like symptoms after months in space. “The ISS provides a unique place for understanding the role of gravity on circulation...It is exciting that we may better understand the physiology through [our CCSVI studies in] space,” said Dr. Zamboni, the Principal Investigator.
AFRFND relies on direct donations and fundraisers held by friends, like the Disney Family Museum. Thanks to these generous donors and the exciting research news, 2014 was the biggest year ever! AFRFND is a 501(c)3 non-profit. All AFRFND staff and advisors donate their time, eliminating overhead costs common to most charities.
Related Links:
http://www.isnvd.org
http://www.AnnetteConnection.com
Video - http://youtu.be/Hv1sRGUEA0c
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SOURCE Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases
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