[Accelerated Cure Project Status] Status for the month of January 2009

[Hollie Schmidt]

Accelerated Cure Project informal status for the month of January 2009

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 >>> Joining/Leaving Us This Month

o Our wonderful new CEO Carolyn Cronin officially joined us in January. 
  You can see her bio and picture here:

   https://www.acceleratedcure.org/about/people.php?section=2&id=91

 >>> Research

Repository:

o We have enrolled 1416 subjects, and 20 subjects have returned for 
longitudinal (follow-up) visits.  Our sites in Atlanta and Phoenix have 
also been trained to conduct longitudinal visits now.

o We distributed data to Dr. Thomas Aune (Vanderbilt 
University/ArthroChip LLC) to accompany samples previously sent.

o We also sent samples from 14 of our subjects with neuromyelitis optica
(NMO) to the Mayo Clinic for testing for a biomarker for NMO.

o We approved a new sample request from Dr. Julius Birnbaum from Johns 
Hopkins, and another request from previous sample recipient Diogenix.

o We continued having discussions with the Guthy-Jackson Charitable 
Foundation regarding special enrollment efforts for NMO subjects.

o Sara and Hollie spent time leading an industry working group on 
repository fundraising and marketing.

Other Science Efforts:

o Hollie met with her colleagues from Mass General and Harvard to 
further plan the development of an online community for MS researchers, 
and got a sneak preview of a similar site being developed for another 
disease.

 >>> Community Building

o We had meetings with the following people:

* Seth and Sarah met with Carey Peabody about hosting an event in her 
Redwood, CA home
* Seth met with the Myelin Repair Foundation in Saratoga, CA
* Seth toured the MS Research Center of New York with Ken Gabel

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

* March 6, Boston, MA: Buy your tickets now for the 2nd annual Glow and 
Behold Enchanted Winter Ball, a black tie evening of dancing, footwear, 
and fashion hosted by Hello Stiletto Shoe Club, Genevieve Boston, and 
Kristina Kozak to benefit the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple 
Sclerosis.  This year, the event will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, 
Boston Common from 7:30pm - 12am.  The cost is $100 per person.  Visit 
the link below today for more information and to get your tickets now!

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20090306_shoeball.php

* April 20, Boston, MA: Support our team of over 10 dedicated runners as
they train for the 113th Boston Marathon while raising funds in support 
of Accelerated Cure Project!  Click on the links below to look at the 
runners' marathon web pages that have been set up so far:

http://expansion.acceleratedcure.org/

* May 16, Somerville, MA: The Medeiros Family 7th Annual Sports 
Scholarship and MS Research Fundraiser, held in loving memory of Edmund 
Medeiros, is a great night out featuring dinner, music, dancing, and 
chances to win fun raffle and silent auction items.  Website coming soon...

* October 17, Boston, MA:  SAVE the DATE for our Inaugural Accelerated 
Cure Project's Honoree Recognition Dinner.  The black tie event will be 
held at the Hyatt Regency in Boston.  More details to follow.

 >>> Previous Events

* January 10, Allston, MA: Job well done to Cher Kore and Ama Allara who
raised $1000 with the 2nd Annual Wellness Resolution event.  Attendees 
enjoyed sample exercise classes, massages, posture analysis, live 
entertainment, and free food & drink.  Stayed tuned for next year's 
event, and start your year off on the right foot!

 >>> Operations

* The landlords continue to make improvements to our office space and 
building.  This month we got new windows that look good and keep us warmer.

* Operations continued to run smoothly this month.

 >>> Volunteers Reporting Time Last Month

* Admin
William Senne
Avery Bargar

* Boston Marathon 2009
Zach Natale
Michele Van Leer
Seth Matheson
Phil Harrell
Michael Grant
Justin Obey
Doug Hull
Carol Rose

* Community Building
Pat Phelps

* Dance to Cure MS
Deb DuFault
Ann Cabot

* Let's Bag MS
Debbie Mann
Susie Keller
Maggie Wolf

* IT Maintenance
Peter Schmidt
Dave Baker

* MJS Scholarship Program
Rick Szczepanski

* Volunteer Initiative Program
Debbie Urbanik
Shelley Hachman

* Sense of Purpose
Bob Mellor

* Shoe Ball
Melissa O'Shea
Kristina Kozak
Jennifer Sheehan

* Sing to Cure MS
Marion Leeds Carroll

* The Wellness Resolution
Cher Kore
Ama Allara
William Senne
Joan Pasquale
Katie Reed
Roo Franzel
Kim Carmoa
Larry Manning

* Repository NMO Project
Mike Ahern

* Medeiros Family Fundraiser
Nancy Medeiros
Judy Medeiros

Contributed Goods and Services:

Clockwork Design Group, Inc
Michael Gonnerman


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