MS is a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. It is among the most common causes of neurological disability in young adults and occurs at least twice as frequently in women as in men.
More than 150,000 patients are believed to suffer from MS currently in the MENA region. The incidence and prevalence of this debilitating disease continue to rise in the region as observed by several local epidemiology publications and patient registries. Although we have seen a leap in disease awareness, we continue to learn and develop our understanding of the underlying causes, disease progression and treatment alternatives. There is no doubt that more can be done to improve our understanding of the disease characteristics and their impact on the diverse population inhabiting the MENA region.
As part of MENACTRIMS’s commitment to support and expand MS research across the Middle East & North Africa region, we will fund two MENACTRIMS Research Grants per year.
The aim of this annual scientific grant is to support regional research projects by academic & clinical researchers to enhance our understanding of multiple sclerosis and help improve the quality of life of MS patients in the MENA region. Potential research areas that will be funded through the MENACTRIMS Research Grant will include; MS risk factors, epidemiology, natural history and other relevant topics to clinical practice in the MENA region.
Dr. Bassem Yamout, MD, FAAN
Professor of Clinical Neurology, Director Multiple Sclerosis
Center Clinical Research, American University of Beirut Medical
Center, Beirut – Lebanon.
“The MENACTRIMS Research Grant aims at encouraging clinical research in the field of multiple sclerosis all over the Arab world. It fits in the overall vision of our newly founded association “The Middle East and North Africa Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis: MENACTRIMS”, which aims at increasing awareness and knowledge of the disease among the neurologists community of the region. The MENACTRIMS Research Grant grant will, by providing research funds, promote this knowledge and increase our overall research potential in the MENA region”
Dr. Mohammed Al-Jumah, MD, FRCPC
Consultant Neurologist at King Fahad National Guard Hospital,
Vice President, Planning and Development, King Saud bin
Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences,
Riyadh – Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Riadh Gouider
Professor of Clinical Neurology, Director of Department of Neurology at Razi Hospital, Tunis
President of the Tunisian Society of Neurology and the Pan African Association of Neurological Societies (PAANS) and MENACTRIMS Vice President
Dr. Maurice Dahdaleh
Consultant Neurologist
Khalidi Hospital and Medical Center, Affiliate Lahey Hospital and Medical Center (Boston), Amman, Jordan.
MENACTRIMS Treasurer
Dr. Mohamad Ali Sahraian
Professor of Neurology at Sina Hospital, Tehran University Of Medical Sciences, Tehran – Iran