AIMS Charity celebrates its 5th anniversary with a landmark Sheffield conference, focusing on the groundbreaking StarMS treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS).
AIMS (Autoimmune and Multiple Sclerosis) Charity, a vanguard in MS treatment research, marked its 5th anniversary with a significant event at Cutlers’ Hall, Sheffield, on Saturday 25 November. This event was a forum for discussing the effectiveness of Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) in MS, a treatment showing promise in arresting disease progression. The conference also highlighted the StarMS treatment, undergoing trials in Sheffield and nationwide, featuring experiences from notable public figures and industry authorities.
The event saw the presence of influential personalities such as Mathew Embry, a documentary filmmaker, Nicola Chapman-Haste, a makeup artist and YouTuber with MS, Caroline Wyatt, a BBC journalist, and Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, an Oxford professor, all of whom shared their HSCT experiences.
HSCT involves using a patient’s stem cells after chemotherapy to rebuild the immune system, aiming to stop MS progression. The StarMS trial evaluates the effectiveness and safety of Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (aHSCT) compared to advanced Disease Modifying Therapies (DMTs), further investigating how aHSCT works in RRMS. The UK-wide trial involves 198 patients over 24 months, with regular check-ups.
This groundbreaking conference was the first to convene global HSCT experts for comprehensive discussions on this innovative treatment.
Distinguished speakers included Dr. Richard K Burt, a leading figure in HSCT for MS, alongside Professor Basil Sharrack, Professor John Snowden, Dr. Majid Kazmi, Professor Gavin Giovannoni, Dr. Elisa Roldan Galvan, Dr. Guillermo Ruiz Arguelles, and Dr. Denis A Fedorenko.
Alison Coates, AIMS Charity co-founder, expressed enthusiasm about showcasing the potential of HSCT treatment. Professor Gavin Giovannon highlighted the need for neurologists to familiarise themselves with this groundbreaking therapy.
HSCT, provided by Haematologists within the NHS, offers a beacon of hope to MS patients, potentially halting disease progression and improving life quality.
AIMS Charity remains committed to advancing MS treatments and providing support, striving for a future where MS patients have access to revolutionary therapies.
For more details, visit https://www.aimscharity.org/
