[acp-status] status since last reported on 8/29/06

[Art Mellor]

Accelerated Cure Project informal status since last reported on 8/29/06:

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

>>> Special

o If you haven't already, RSVP for our free Annual Party Sat 11/18 at
  the MIT Faculty club in Cambridge

  Details
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20061118_acp_party.php
  RSVP
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/rsvp

o Free to a good home (Boston or NYC area) - 3 wheeled walker
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/trike.php

>>> Joining/Leaving Us This Month

o We're still the same organization we were last time

>>> Cure Map/Repository

Repository:

o We've enrolled 144 subjects at our 4 active sites (Johns Hopkins,
  UMass Memorial, Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York, and
  Shepherd Center).  It's very exciting to see the enrollment numbers
  grow each week!

o Two new sites are working toward enrolling subjects soon.  UT
  Southwestern is just waiting for a certificate of confidentiality to
  be issued, and Barrow Neurological Clinic has received approval from
  its IRB to participate in our study and is currently finalizing its
  contract and budget. Art and Hollie visited Barrow in Phoenix to
  talk about how we can work together beyond the repository.

o We have officially closed the pilot study at both sites (Beth Israel
  Deaconess and UMass Memorial).  The final tally was 43 subjects (28
  cases, 15 controls).  Thanks to all who participated!

o We've developed our Repository Oversight Committee guidelines for
  the review of proposals to use repository samples and data, and
  we've developed the proposal form for requests.

o We've begun to receive proposals for use of the repository. There
  are some very exciting possibilities - we'll let you know as the
  formal proposals arrive.

Cure Map:

o All of the Phase 2 Genetics documents have been brought up to date.
  The updated versions are available for download.  Thanks to our
  summer intern Ali Alhassani for his work on this project.
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/curemap/docs.php

Other scientific projects:

o Hollie has been working with her HuGE review collaborators to make
  the final revisions to their paper that discusses the HLA DR15
  haplotype in MS.

o Art and Hollie attended the ECTRIMS conference again this year to
  hear about the latest research on MS -- you can read their notes
  here:
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org:8080/article.pl?sid=06/10/05/1015222

o Art attended a Faster Cures session on Clinical Trials recruiting
  best practices held in Washington D.C.

o Art and Melissa met with Clara Lajonchere in LA of Cure Autism Now
  to talk about their AGRE genetics bank, which is a similar effort to
  ours but focused solely on genetics. She had some great tips to
  share with us.

o Stan Trotman got us in to Cold Spring Harbor Labs on Long Island to
  meet with some researchers there. Art and Melissa learned about some
  very interesting genetics screening they did that might have
  applications in MS.

o Art flew to Montreal to attend the Myelin Repair Foundation's annual
  scientific meeting. It was a great gathering of researchers
  presenting the progress they have made on that effort. It was very
  exciting and we are eager to see what comes out next.

>>> Fundraising

o Watch your mailbox for an Accelerated Cure Project envelope. Inside
  is a letter from Emmy award winning actor Bradley Whitford telling
  you why your year-end, tax deductible donation would really mean a
  lot to him. Your support is greatly appreciated.

o Help us reach the $1 million Water Cove Charitable Foundation
  matching goal. Make a gift of $1,000 or more and your gift will be
  matched dollar for dollar. Pledge your gift of $1,000 or more for
  three years and the gift will be matched *two* to one in 2006. If
  you can't pledge $1,000, gifts of any size still help! For more
  details or to participate contact Melissa O'Shea at 781/487-0011 or
  melissa at acceleratedcure.org.

>>> Education

o Barry Jaspan has been creating a new version of MSNews. It will look
  and work very similarly to the current version, but will be more
  stable, have a few more features, and be built on a platform that is
  more easily upgraded and maintained. We'll announce it's
  availability in the coming months.

o Our Fall Newsletter is available for download as a PDF
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/news/newsletter.php

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 traveled to the West Coast and met with a number of
  supporters in LA and San Diego. Melissa met with actor Bradley
  Whitford and was invited to watch the taping of an episode of his
  new TV show "Studio 60."

o Art and Melissa traveled to New York City and met with a number of
  local supporters as well as researchers at Cold Spring Harbor
  Research Laboratory (on Long Island), the Montel Williams MS
  Foundation, and Teva Neuroscience.  They also attended an open house
  at Dr. Saud Sadiq's new MS center, the MS Research Center of New
  York.

o Melissa had lunch with Rebecca Russell of the Boston Business
  Journal and discussed Accelerated Cure Project's upcoming appearance
  in the 2007 Philanthropy Almanac thanks to sponsor John Hancock Long
  Term Care.

o Accelerated Cure Project hosted a booth in Arlington Town Day on
  September 9th and at a Teva Neuroscience Patient Marketing Seminar
  on September 11th.

o Sarah, Art, and Melissa met with Lori Tsuruda of People Making a
  Difference to discuss volunteer management.

o Art was presented with a Boston Business Journal Champions in Health
  Care Innovator award:
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/news/bcp/20060811-bbj.php

o We also issued a press release announcing the launch of our
  repository:
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/news/pr/20061025_repository.php

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

>>> Events

o Every year we hold a free event to introduce people to our
  organization and let our supporters know what we have been up to for
  the past year. Please us on Saturday, November 18th from 6pm-10pm at
  the MIT Faculty Club in Cambridge, MA for Accelerated Cure Project's
  2006 Annual Party. For details and to RSVP visit:
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20061118_acp_party.php

o Special thanks to Tim Thalman for organizing a fundraising event on 
  September 26th at John Hancock Financial Services which raised over $2500.

o Congratulations to Vicki Finlayson for raising over $17,000 for
  Accelerated Cure Project and LDN for MS Research at her "Evening at
  Lake of the Pines" in Auburn, CA on September 17th.

o Congratulations to Marion Leeds Carroll and the volunteers and
  performers of Sing to Cure MS 2006 who produced a beautiful
  Halloween benefit concert on October 29th.

o Congratulations to Michele Van Leer, Peter Scavongelli, and Kelly
  Corrigan for raising over $10,000 through their Marine Corps
  Marathon runs on October 29th.

>>> Operations

Operations September-October Status:

o The change of our name from Boston Cure Project, Inc. to Accelerated
  Cure Project, Inc. is now complete.  The IRS has it entered in their
  system now.

o We have signed up to have a booth at the American Academy of
  Neurology Annual Meeting 2007 in Boston.  If you plan to attend,
  please look for us!

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

o Accelerated Cure Party 2006

Deb Mellor
Joanne Minassian
 
o ACP/LDN cocktail party 2006

Vicki Finlayson
 
o Admin

Debbie Baker
Jackie Bollens
Joyce Ananian
Kelly Novak
Richard Baker
Sue Chamberlain
 
o Arlington Town Day 2006

Jeannette LeBlanc 
 
o Community Building

Gabe d'Annunzio
Jane Shapiro
Martine Assaf
 
o Cookbook Project 2006

Kristyn Knickelbine
 
o Dance to Cure MS 2007

Deb Dufault
 
o Donor Database Project

Dave Kaffine
 
o Jim Rice Event 2006

Tim Thalman
 
o Marine Corps Marathon 2006

Kelly Corrigan
Michele Van Leer
Peter Scavongelli
 
o Naples Florida Golf Tournament 2006

Marie Mota
  
o Neuroanatomy Paper

Jennifer Tobin
 
o Personal Appeal

Pat Phelps
 
o Pharma DB

Scott Feier
 
o Scientific Research

Monika Fekete
 
o Sing to Cure MS 2006

David Goldhirsch
Marion Leeds Carroll
 
o Teva Event

Nancy Costello
Martine Assaf

>>> August-September-October Contributed Goods and Services

Clockwork Design Group, Inc.
Chevy's
Clock Tower Law Group
Darkhorse Golf Club
Hanford's Catering
Jeff Stover
Lake of the Pines
Massage by Magdeline
Matrix Media
Mikuni's Restaurant
Pedigree Interiors
PetsSuites Pet Resort & Spa
Phyllis At The Madison
Piaseanos
Proctor & Gamble
Puppy Camp
Puppy Daycare
Puppy Playcare
Sacramento Brewing Co.
Sam's Club
Scarlet O-Hair
Sierra Knolls Vineyard
Smith & Boggs Galleries
Starbucks
Suzanne Reynolds
Synergy Holistic Health Center
T.G.I. Friday's
Telsha Finlayson
The Groom Room
The Herbalists
The Pet Spot
The Ridge Golf Club 
Ty Conners
Wild Oats
Winchester Country Club
Wolf Mountain Day Spa
YMCA
Your Pet's Shop

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