[acp-status] status since last reported on 10/24/05

[Art Mellor]

Accelerated Cure Project informal status since last reported on 10/24/05:

Information on our other mailing lists is at the bottom of this message.

>>> Joining/Leaving Us This Month

o No additions or deletions this month

>>> Cure Map/Sample Repository

o Repository pilot study

  Big news this month -- we have reached the major milestone of
  sending samples and data out to a team of scientists studying the
  causes of MS!  On October 24 our vendor Genomics Collaborative sent
  22 samples and their associated data to scientists at the Oklahoma
  Medical Research Foundation, which will use them to look for viral
  triggers of MS.  We are very excited to have reached this stage and
  look forward to supporting more studies in the future.
  
  Pilot study status: To date we have received samples from 40
  subjects and complete data from 33 subjects.

o Repository main study

  We executed a contract with our electronic data capture vendor, DSG,
  and a press release was distributed to announce our partnership.  We
  also signed a letter of intent with our contract research
  organization, Omnicare.  A kick-off meeting is scheduled to start
  the process of converting our paper-based case report form
  (questionnaire) into an electronic format for easier data entry.

  Discussions are continuing with sites interested in enrolling
  subjects for the main study (Johns Hopkins, UMass, and UT
  Southwestern).  The Shepherd Center in Atlanta has also recently
  expressed interest in getting involved.

  Sara, Art and Hollie will be traveling to Johns Hopkins in early
  December to talk with a multi-disciplinary group of researchers
  about possible uses of the repository.

o We recently posted two key pieces of the Pathogens track of the Cure
  Map: analyses of the evidence for several key pathogens as triggers
  of MS, and a spreadsheet listing human studies performed on the
  involvement of infections in MS.  Each are available for download on
  our web site:
  http://www.bostoncure.org/downloads/phase2-pathogens-analysistables.pdf
  http://www.bostoncure.org/downloads/phase2-pathogens-studies.xls

o Hollie also continues to work on the Phase 2 toxic agents and
  nutrition documents, the HuGE review of the HLA-DR15 gene haplotype
  in MS, and the MS/pathogens meeting proposed by the HHV-6
  Foundation.

>>> Fundraising

o If you have not yet made your annual contribution to the Accelerated
  Cure Project, now is a great time to do so.  Help us wrap up 2005 by
  meeting our $775,000 fundraising goal.  For details contact
  Development Director, Melissa O'Shea at 781-487-0011 or visit
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/about/contribute.php

>>> Education

o We have a new poll up on MSNews:
  Have you ever participated in an MS clinical study?
  http://msnews.acceleratedcure.org/pollBooth.pl?qid=11

o MSNews (http://msnews.acceleratedcure.org) continues to run daily updates
  on MS related items. If you come across anything MS related and new
  on the web, please submit it to our site. 

>>> Community Building

o Art and Melissa met with Peter Blacklow and Jeremy Shea of online
  game company WorldWinner (http://www.worldwinner.com) to discuss
  partnership ideas that would benefit Accelerated Cure Project and
  help us raise money.

o We had a number of meetings with various people:
  - Art talked to Anita Goel at Harvard about novel pathogen discovery
  - Continued discussions with Johns Hopkins about working together
  - Met with John Guandolo of Destination Cure to discuss working together
  - Talking to the Transverse Myelitis Association about collaboration
  - Met with Peter Riskind at UMass about possible research opportunities
  - Art and Mike Gonnerman met with NE Chapter NMSS directors
  - Art talking to Gerry Sussman of MIT about ways to work together
  
o Recent Press

  Mentions in the news:
  Salon-a-Thon
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/news/bcp/20051111-capecodder.php
  Quote
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/news/bcp/20051020-bostonglobe.php
  Seminar
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/news/bcp/20051015-ithacajournal.php

  Melissa also appeared on the news in Norfolk, VA for the Salon-a-Thon
  down there.

  Press releases:
  DSG partnership
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/news/pr/20051101_dsg.php
  Wine Tasting
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/news/pr/20051020_gccpwine.php

o As always, a few more T-shirt pictures are available:
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/tshirt.php

>>> Events

o Peg Rochette, owner of the Hair and I Salon in Orleans, MA will host
  the salon's first Cuts to Cure MS Salon-a-thon on Friday, November
  18th from 9-5pm.  For those of you who live on or near Cape Cod,
  call (508) 255-6606 and schedule your appointment today or visit our
  web site for further details:
  www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20051118_salonathon.php

o Fillipo Paolini, owner of Capriccio Salon on Massachusetts Avenue in
  Arlington, MA will also host a Cuts to Cure MS Salon-a-thon on
  Sunday, December 4th, 2005 from 9am to 1pm.  Get a haircut and
  blow-dry for $30 in time for the holidays and support Accelerated
  Cure Project's efforts to determine the causes of MS.  Call
  Capriccio Salon at (617) 661-7804 to book your appointment or visit
  our web site for further details:
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20051204_salonathon.php

o Join us for a demonstration of the iBot Mobility System at the
  offices of the New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Marketplace
  in Hartford, Connecticut on Saturday, December 3rd from 10am to
  12pm.  The iBot is a remarkable piece of equipment that can greatly
  enhance your quality of life if you rely on a wheelchair or scooter
  for mobility.  For further details visit
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20051203_ibotneat.php

o On October 23rd, Accelerated Cure Project's third annual Sing to
  Cure MS Halloween Concert raised over $2800. Special thanks to our
  Musical Director Marion Leeds Carroll and the many volunteers
  involved for their hard work.  CDs of the performance are available
  for purchase at http://www.acceleratedcure.org/sing

o About Face Hair Design and eight other salons in the Norfolk and
  Virginia Beach areas of Virginia raised over $6500 for Accelerated
  Cure Project on Sunday, November 6th at their Third Annual Cuts to
  Cure MS Salon-a-thon.  This was the largest salon-a-thon we've had
  to date thanks to Janelle Hamilton and her team of volunteers!

o Special thanks to Nancy Kaplan and the Kerem Shalom Youth Group of
  Kerem Shalom synagogue for their efforts in the Soccer Kick-a-thon
  fundraiser to benefit Accelerated Cure Project on Sunday, October
  23rd in Acton, MA.

>>> Operations

o Julie spent the bulk of her time preparing for the Accelerated Cure
  Party for MS - which went off very smoothly in spite of some
  significant bumps in the road outside of our control, including a
  freak blizzard in October!

>>> Volunteer Efforts that have been reported since last time

October Volunteers

* Administrative Assistant

Susan Mellor

* Administration and Fundraising

Jackie Bollens

* Accelerated Cure Party for MS

Al Sandrock
Alex Bargar
Amanda Song
Anne Putnam
Anthony O'Shea
Asha Mellor
Augusto Odone
Barbara Morgenlender
Bill Meyer
Bob Bargar
Brian Mellor
Catherine Doucette
Cher Koor
Christine Ravinski
Dave Henderson
David Morgenlender
David Olsen
Deb Mellor
Elena Morgenlender
Elinor Nelson
Fiona Reardon
Frank Sisto
Gail Martino
Gerry Sussman
Jane Shapiro
Jackie Bollens
Jeff Schwefel
Jeff Shapiro
Jill McGaffigan
Jim Burbridge
Jonathan Katz
Kasia Nels
Kelly McGowan
Kim Labow
Linda Mades
Lisa Sargeant
Margot Sullivan
Mark Halliday
Meagan Curtis
Megan Buhr
Melissa Waterstredt
Michael Pomarole
Michele McHugh
Peter Larsen
Phil Luongo
Rachel Cafarella
Scott Johnson
Scott Tamosunas
Shannon Sardelli
Shawn McGowan
Stephanie Sisto
Susan Baloul
Tina Shoepe
Yesim Richardson

* Carrie's Walk to Cure MS

Carrie Bryant
Emily Nelson
Kate Bachman
Kevin Tierney
Sarah McCague

* Cuts to Cure MS

Dean Claud
Janelle Hamilton
John Getz
Patrice Kainrath 
Tim Thalmann

* Donor Database

Dave Kaffine

* Greater Cincinnati Cure Project Wine Tasting

Jodi Supinski
Kemp Jaycox

* Sense of Purpose

Anthony Russo
Jonathan Martel
Lauren Smith

* Fundraising

Rosalind Joffe
Ruth Thomsen

* Ithaca, NY Seminar

Leon Phelps
Pat Phelps

* LDN Project

Samantha Wilkinson

* Marketing

Jane Shaprio

* Neuroanatomy Paper

Jennifer Tobin

* Newly Diagnosed Class Project

Joan O'Connell

* New York Cure Project Hunt to Cure MS

Jessica Zall
John Viggiano
Kim McGeever
Megan Brown
Nadia Hile
Paula Dorinson
Stephen Harrison

* Research Paper Access

Joel Baron

* Sing to Cure MS

Catherine Doucette
DebI Robison
Jim Carroll
Judith Lemoine
Marion Leeds Carroll
Nancy Costello
Peter Schmidt
Rebecca Burnstein
Ruth Seidman
Sandra Spring

* Systems Administration

Scott Tamosunas

* Contributed Goods and Services

Clockwork Design Group, Inc.
Stephanie Anderson
David Blohm
Jane Shapiro
Asha Mellor
Elinor Nelson
CommonGoals
CommonGoals
Dellaria of Peabody
Pat Phelps
John Hancock Financial Services
Boston Red Sox
Steve Willis
Gibson Guitars
iRobot
Sue Mellor
Fred Finkel Goldsmith
Jaras Designs
Kate Cosentino
K. Tracy Munn
Crossed Eyed Crafts
Foxwoods Resort & Casino
Glen Glater
Louisa Kasdon
Leslie Wolf
Truly Jorg's Pastry Shop
Patricia & Dave Dick
Peter & Hollie Schmidt
Summer Shack
Excelsior
The Rendesvous
Marjorie Maws
George McGoldrick
Expo Design Center
Six Mile Creek vineyard
vinodivino
Rialto
Harvest
Upstairs on the Square
Grill 23
Newton Marriott
Kameleon Healing Aromatherapy
The Poirier Practice
Boyajian Inc.
Rosalind Joffe, M.Ed.
BoneDance
Matrix Media
Return Path, Inc.

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