Manitoba Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre

The impact of MS

MS is a devastating condition that affects not just those diagnosed, but also their families and loved ones.

With onset typically occurring between the ages of 20-50 years, MS has long-term effects on the quality of life for affected individuals. The physical and emotional toll of MS can be immense, including symptoms such as muscle weakness, numbness, and fatigue, as well as depression, anxiety, and memory loss.

These symptoms can make it difficult for individuals to work, care for themselves, and live their lives to the fullest.  

MS and the economy

MS not only has a significant impact on the lives of those affected, but also on the economy.

Nearly 80% of Canadians with MS have reduced work hours or are forced to leave employment early, leading to large economic impacts for social services and healthcare systems. The healthcare costs associated with MS in Manitoba are projected to exceed $2 billion annually within the next decade.

These facts highlight the pressing need for focused research and care efforts in Manitoba to address the impact of MS.

A Manitoban solution

With a high prevalence of MS in Manitoba and its impact on the lives of Manitobans and the economy, it's imperative to establish a focused centre for MS research and care in the province.

By developing the MMSRC in Manitoba, the province will provide a hub for MS research and care efforts and position itself at the forefront of MS research and care efforts in Canada and beyond.

The MMSRC will bring together the best and brightest researchers, clinicians, and knowledge users to tackle MS and improve the lives of those affected. 

Our team

Members of the UM Manitoba Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre (MMSRC) in 2023.

Our centre is composed of nearly 40 researcher, clinicians, trainees and knowledge users who collaborate together to promote MS research and care. The MMSRC members and their research groups span a wide breadth of research themes, and include foci spanning basic, translational, and clinical research.

Our researchers

L-R: MMSRC principal investigators Drs. Galen Wright, Soheila Karimi and Kaarinna Kowalec.

Dr. Karimi’s research team has extensive experience in conducting preclinical studies to study MS pathogenesis and disease mechanisms. The gained knowledge is used to develop neuroprotection and neuroregenerative therapeutic approaches with translational feasibility for MS treatment.

Dr. Wright and his group employ neurogenomic and bioinformatic approaches to fine-map and identify genetic variants and genes that may act as novel prognostic biomarkers and drug targets in MS. Similarly,

Dr. Kowalec and her research team focus on precision medicine approaches and uses large administrative health datasets and genomic data to identify individuals with neurological or psychiatric disorders who are at high risk for experiencing poor outcomes.

Trainees and staff

Trainees and research staff within the laboratories of the MMSRC core members constitute an important membership of the Centre as they are the major force driving MS research in Manitoba.

MMSRC has been instrumental in providing a platform to engage these trainees in various scientific, mentorship, networking, outreach and leadership activities within the Centre that will improve their skills and promote their career development. Scientific interactions facilitated through the MMSRC seminar series and research days, as well as internal/external collaborative opportunities, has enriched their training experience and leadership capacities.

Research teams

The MMSRC research teams led by Drs. Chase Figley and Jennifer Kornelsen have expertise in developing and applying novel MRI methods to study structural and functional brain damage, and their relation as prognostic biomarkers for MS-related cognitive decline.

They conduct human studies involving task-based and/or resting-state functional MRI, and how changes in functional brain connectivity relate to individual differences in people with MS.