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. 2015 Sep;30(10):1381-7.
doi: 10.1177/0883073814550656. Epub 2014 Sep 30.

The US Network of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Centers: Development, Progress, and Next Steps

T Charles Casper  1 , John W Rose  2 , Shelly Roalstad  3 , Emmanuelle Waubant  4 , Gregory Aaen  5 , Anita Belman  6 , Tanuja Chitnis  7 , Mark Gorman  8 , Lauren Krupp  6 , Timothy E Lotze  9 , Jayne Ness  10 , Marc Patterson  11 , Moses Rodriguez  11 , Bianca Weinstock-Guttman  12 , Brittan Browning  3 , Jennifer Graves  13 , Jan-Mendelt Tillema  11 , Leslie Benson  8 , Yolanda Harris; US Network of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Centers
Collaborators, Affiliations

The US Network of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Centers: Development, Progress, and Next Steps

T Charles Casper et al. J Child Neurol. 2015 Sep.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases in the pediatric population have received an increasing level of attention by clinicians and researchers. The low incidence of these diseases in children creates a need for the involvement of multiple clinical centers in research efforts. The Network of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Centers was created initially in 2006 to improve the diagnosis and care of children with demyelinating diseases. In 2010, the Network shifted its focus to multicenter research while continuing to advance the care of patients. The Network has obtained support from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. The Network will continue to serve as a platform for conducting impactful research in pediatric demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. This article provides a description of the history and development, organization, mission, research priorities, current studies, and future plans of the Network.

Keywords: NPMSC; demyelinating disease; multicenter research; multiple sclerosis; network.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

Nothing to declare

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Concept-to-grant process in the US Network of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Centers. PI=principal investigator; DCAC=data coordinating and analysis center; SC=steering committee.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of age at first symptoms for patients with suspected demyelinating disease enrolled in the Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and other Demyelinating Diseases database.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Breakdown of most recent diagnosis for demyelinating disease patients in the Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and other Demyelinating Diseases database. MS=multiple sclerosis (n=388); CIS=clinically isolated syndrome (n=126); ADEM=acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (n=94); NOS=demyelinating disease not otherwise specified (n=71); NMO=neuromyelitis optica (n=61); RIS=radiologically isolated syndrome (n=11)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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