[Accelerated Cure Project Status] informal status for the month of February 2008

[Art Mellor]

Accelerated Cure Project informal status for the month of February 2008

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>>> Joining/Leaving Us This Month

o No activity on this front in February

>>> Research

Repository:

o On February 27, we achieved an important milestone by enrolling the
  1,000th subject into our repository!  Thanks to everyone involved in
  this study for helping make this possible.  1,000 is only a start,
  so enrollment is still continuing at our six clinical sites.

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/repository/status.php

o We distributed samples from people with NMO to the Mayo Clinic to help 
  with a genetics study they are conducting.

o We also approved a sample request from Brigham & Women's
  Hospital/Broad Institute for a study examining the genes that affect
  the risk of MS as well as characteristics such as severity.

o Sara and Hollie continued working on implementing the longitudinal
  component of the study, including testing the new online
  questionnaire and discussing the samples that should be collected.

o We sponsored a meeting at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on the topic
  of gene/environment interactions in MS.  Hollie and Art attended
  along with 22 leading scientists in a range of disciplines.  The
  meeting produced a protocol for studying people with an initial MS
  symptom to identify risk factors for conversion to definite MS.

  http://msnews.acceleratedcure.org/node/3118

o Art and Hollie attended a meeting sponsored by the National MS Society 
  on the topic of tissue and DNA repositories.

o We held a conference call with attendees from Massachusetts General
  Hospital, UMass Worcester, and Johns Hopkins to discuss the
  groundwork and grant application strategy for building a database of
  MRI images from repository participants.

o Art, Hollie and Sara talked with Barry Smith of the University at
  Buffalo about MS ontology.  Barry is hoping to work on a project
  that would normalize the terms used in different MS datasets such as
  ours, thus making it easier to integrate data from different
  studies.

>>> Education

o Poll - How were you birthed?

  http://msnews.acceleratedcure.org/node/3132

o We continue our daily MS News updates

  http://msnews.acceleratedcure.org

>>> Community Building

o We had meetings with the following people:

  - Melissa and Art met Biogen Idec to discuss partnering on possible
    educational programs and other support for Accelerated Cure Project.
  - Sarah hosted an information table at Bayer's patient marketing 
    seminar on February 23rd.
  - Sarah hosted an information table at Teva's patient marketing seminar 
    on February 28th.
  - Art continued talks with Praxeon regarding their various MS
    related web offerings.

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

>>> Events

Detailed information about all of our upcoming events can be found on
our web site: http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/calendar.php

o March 15: Come celebrate Saint Patrick's Day in Bucks County, PA
  while enjoying great food, live music, and a chance to win a trip to
  Ireland in the auction!

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20080315_stpatrick.php

o March 27: Enjoy drinks & appetizers, live music and a silent auction
  while listening to speakers passionate about the work of Accelerated
  Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis and MSFriends in San Francisco.

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20080327_reflecting.php

o April 19: The Medeiros Family 6th Annual Sports Scholarship and MS
  Research Fundraiser, held in loving memory of Edmund Medeiros, is a
  great night out taking place in Somerville, MA and featuring dinner,
  music, dancing, and chances to win fun raffle and silent auction
  items.

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20080419_medeiros.php

o April 21: Our 2008 Boston Marathon Team is actively training and
  fundraising!  Read about our nine runners and what's inspiring them
  to go the distance to raise money for Accelerated Cure Project:

  http://expansion.acceleratedcure.org/bosmar08/default.asp
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20080421_marathon.php

o May 31: Our 7th Annual Hunt to Cure MS Scavenger Hunt will be held
  starting at the Skellig in Waltham again. Save the date and get your
  teams ready.

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20080531_hunt.php

o November 7: Save the date for the 2nd Annual Dance to Cure MS in
  Windham, NH, a fun night out for adults coming together to
  socialize, dance and eat, but most importantly to give hope and
  support to those who have Multiple Sclerosis.

>>> Previous Events

o February 1: Glow and Behold was a huge success, raising $20,000.
  Our thanks to Hello Stiletto Shoe Club, Genevieve Boston, shoe
  designer Kristina Kozak, and the Hampshire House in Boston, MA for
  organizing such a great evening!

o February 24: Congratulations to Ernie Parizeau and the Sledgehammer
  Rowing Team for their participation in the Crash-B Sprints World
  Championship of Indoor Rowing, an effort that is continuing to raise
  funds for Accelerated Cure Project.

>>> Operations

>>> Volunteers Reporting Time Last Month

o Admin
  Kelly Novak
  Bonnie Hakkinen
  
o Barbara Ann Cohen Katz Memorial Fund
  Debra Lynne
  Nancy Katz Eder
  
o Community Building
  Pat Phelps
  
o Dance to Cure MS 2008
  Deb DuFault
  
o Donor Database Project
  Dave Kaffine
  
o Glow and Behold 2008
  Ana Correa
  Joan Coyne
  Andrea Imperato
  Andy Shein
  Anna Conrades
  Arthur Cushing
  Ashley Arruda
  Ashley Lambert
  Barbara Beaudin
  Danielle Abrams
  Danielle Wiedman
  Dawn Peters
  Debra Macki
  Emily Bocan
  Gordon Woodman
  Grant Leung
  Greg Krom
  Gwen Leung
  Heather Crosbie
  Jamie Bisson
  Jennifer Eident
  Jennifer Sheehan
  Jill Aggott
  Kathryn Flynn
  Katie Clark
  Kevin Rainsford
  Kristina Kozak
  Kristy Lombardi
  Lauren Kajander
  Lindsay Garre
  Lindsey Viola
  Lisa Magliozzi
  Mary O'Neill
  Norah Boyle
  Sandie Torres
  Sarah Tropeane
  Shelley Hachman
  Stephanie Schmitt
  Stephen Madero
  Steve Kahn
  Susan Wornick
  Tiana Ponti
  Tiffany Perla
  
o Health & Beauty Fair
  Cher Kore
  Ama Allara
  
o Nancy Costello's Walk 2008
  Nancy Costello
  
o Reflecting SF 2008
  Penni Tsavaris
  
o St. Patrick's Day Party:
  Sharon Victor
  
o Scavenger Hunt 2008
  Jennifer Downing
  Anthony O'Shea
  Sue Ropiak
  Claudia Abbes
  Debbie Mellor
  Debbie Zuppa
  Jayne MacVarish
  Jeff Shapiro
  Kathleen  Ottina
  Kelly Novak
  Mary Dyer
  Michael Keatley
  Rebecca Petersen
  
o Sing to Cure MS 2008
  Marion Leeds Carroll
  
o Contributed Goods and Services
  Bella Luna Milky Way Lounge
  Clockwork Design Group, Inc.
  dookie the dog
  DSW
  Genevieve Boston
  Gigi Floral
  Heels.com
  Iridesse
  Jennifer Downing
  Mass High Tech
  Neiman Marcus
  Nina Shoes
  Sofft Shoe Company
  Stained Glass By Kim
  Stanley Trotman, Jr.
  The Hampshire House

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