RealTalk MS

Welcome to a RealTalk MS special series on MS clinical trials. This special series is made possible through a generous grant from Sanofi.

In this final episode of this series, you'll meet Jan Janisch-Hanzlik. Jan lives with MS and is a participant in one of the clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy for MS.

In CAR-T cell therapy, blood is taken from the patient or a healthy donor, much as you would donate blood. This blood is sent to a lab, where the white blood cells, or T-cells, are separated out and reprogrammed to carry a receptor designed to fight a particular condition. This receptor is known as a chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR.

Over several weeks in the lab, these fortified T-cells multiply until there are millions of them, then they're reintroduced to the patient by intravenous infusion. CAR-T cell therapy is already used to treat some blood cancers, and Jan is the first person in the world to receive this one-and-done treatment to treat MS. She's joining us to share her experience participating in the clinical trial and to give us an update on how she's doing following her treatment.

At the age of 14, Michaela Janssen Pohl became a caregiver for her mother, who lives with MS.

I think most of us can agree that just being a teenager carries with it more than enough challenges. Those adolescent years are the years when just about everything in life starts changing. Imagine adding the responsibilities of being a caregiver to all the other things going on in a 14-year-old girl's life. Michaela joins me this week to explain how she found ways to survive and thrive in what can only be described as a challenging situation for any teenager.

We'll also explain why you might want to think a little differently about Giving Tuesday this year.

We're sharing all the details about the Phase 2 clinical trial focusing on Moderna's investigational Epstein-Barr vaccine and MS (and we'll explain why that might turn out to be important!)

We're talking about how MS impacts women's health issues with this year's winner of the Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in Multiple Sclerosis, Dr. Kristen Krysko.

And we're sharing the results of the Phase 2 clinical trial for PIPE-307, an investigational remyelination therapy.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

It's Giving Tuesday (and why that matters more this year than ever before) :22

This Week: Becoming a caregiver for a parent with MS when you're 14 years old 3:27

A clinical trial focused on an EBV vaccine and MS is recruiting participants 4:25

Dr. Kristen Krysko discusses MS and women's health issues 7:52

Results from the Phase 2 clinical trial for PIPE-307 remyelination therapy 13:48

Michaela Janssen Pohl shares her story of becoming a caregiver at the age of 14 16:55

Share this episode 33:20

Next week's episode 33:40

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Almost everyone with MS is aware of their sensitivity to heat. But cold weather presents a whole different set of challenges that we don't always think about. This week, I'm talking with Dr. James Stark about safely navigating cold-weather conditions when you're living with MS.

Dr. Stark is the Senior Attending Neurologist and Associate Medical Director at the International Multiple Sclerosis Management Practice. And he's sharing tips for staying safe and healthy when the temperature starts to drop.

The FDA has just approved a new generic DMT, and the first biosimilar for MS is hitting the market. We'll tell you about these new disease-modifying therapy options, and we'll bring you up to speed on what biosimilars are all about.

I ran into Dr. Robert Fox at ECTRIMS, the world's largest MS research conference. And, in a brief conversation, Dr. Fox provided a great overview of the MS research landscape. You won't want to miss this conversation!

If you missed the International Progressive MS Alliance's global webcast, Hidden Potential: How Existing Drugs Could Transform MS Treatment, you can still catch the video replay. We're sharing all the details.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: There's a lot to still be thankful for :22

Your opportunity to support the organization that supports you 2:03

What you need to know about the new generic and biosimilar disease-modifying therapies 9:24

The Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Robert Fox shares an overview of the MS research landscape 10:29

Catch the International Progressive MS Alliance Global Webcast video replay 22:41

Dr. James Stark shares tips for navigating winter weather when you're living with MS 23:27

Share this episode 35:14

Next week's episode 35:35

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Welcome to a RealTalk MS special series on MS clinical trials. This special series is made possible through a generous grant from Sanofi.

In today's episode, you'll meet two participants from the TEAMS Study, a research study at the University of Illinois Chicago's UI Health, in conjunction with the University of Alabama Birmingham School of Public Health.

TEAAMS is an acronym for Targeted Exercise for African-Americans with Multiple Sclerosis. And the study's research team analyzed the effects of a remotely delivered, racially tailored exercise training program among African Americans with MS living in low-income areas of the Southeastern United States, including Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee. This is a part of the country that doesn't have many primary care or MS clinics that provide full exercise and rehabilitation services for patients with MS.

The TEAMMS study consists of two 16-week exercise programs, completed 3 days per week at home. One exercise program combines aerobic and resistance training, while the other focuses on stretching and flexibility. Study participants were randomly assigned to one of the two programs, and all of the materials to complete each program, like yoga mats, resistance bands, and training manuals, were provided. And every study participant receives a $90 gift card in compensation for completing the program.

The study's research team hypothesizes that completing the TEAAMS program would improve walking, reduce symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, depression, and pain, and enhance quality of life.

Being a caregiver for a loved one with MS isn't an easy job. And, while it may consume hours of your time, often, it's not your only job. Many caregivers are the only family members bringing in an income. So, in addition to their caregiving responsibilities, they may also be facing the responsibilities that go along with holding down a full-time job.

This week, Diana Grazio joins me to discuss how she balances her roles and responsibilities as her partner's caregiver while holding down a full-time job.

You have online opportunities tomorrow! Participate in the National MS Society's Hispanic LatinX MS Experience Summit, or catch the International Progressive MS Alliance's global webcast, How Existing Drugs Could Transform MS Treatment. We have all the info for you to register for either or both!

If you purchase your health insurance through the ACA Healthcare Marketplace, you've probably already been notified that your premiums will skyrocket in 2026. MS Activist, Sarah Quezada, shares how those premium increases will affect her family.

Roche has announced the outcomes of Phase 3 clinical trials for Fenebrutinib and Relapsing MS, and Primary Progressive MS. It's positive news, and we have the details!

Could nanoparticles penetrate the blood-brain barrier and deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly to the central nervous system? University of Illinois researchers say yes! We're sharing the details.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: It's National Family Caregiver Month :22

The MS Care Partner Connection :34

The National MS Society is hosting the Hispanic LatinX MS Experience Summit TOMORROW! 2:20

The International Progressive MS Alliance Global Webcast is TOMORROW! 2:51

Sarah Quezada shares how astronomical increases in ACA health insurance premiums will affect her family 3:46

Roche announces outcomes for Phase 3 clinical trials for Fenebrutinib and Relapsing MS, and Primary Progressive MS 11:59

Could nanoparticles penetrate the blood-brain barrier and deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly to the central nervous system? 13:43

Diana Grazio discusses how she manages her role as a caregiver while holding down a full-time job 16:07

Share this episode 29:10

Next week's episode 29:30

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