MS Society: Progressive MS Biggest Challenge For Researchers

By Mark Ackerman

DENVER (CBS4)- It's a disease without a cure and without an effective treatment. Now researchers from around the globe are teaming up to tackle the progressive form of multiple sclerosis.

Anuska Ullal, 35, of Golden is fighting the battle against MS on a daily basis. The mother and former anthrax vaccine researcher was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2008. Anuska's doctors say her disease has now graduated from the relapsing remitting form to progressive MS.

"I haven't been feeling well for about a year," she said, "and I haven't had a break from it."

She said MS is an "invisible disease" for many patients and she's "good at hiding the symptoms," but sometimes the chronic pain from her condition makes caring for her 3-year-old daughter difficult.

"It can be hard to get her dressed sometimes, even holding her can be painful," she said. "If I can't hold her she gives me kisses and does her little doctor's kit."

On some days, the pain is unbearable.

Anuska's husband, Neelesh said, "Anuska just told you she's having an okay day and everything is fine." But he said the day before, their daughter found Anuska unconscious from the pain, "She called out, 'Mom's on the floor.'"

"Sometimes the pain is so intense the brain shuts down the body," he explained. "But it's something we deal with. We have a strong family. We've got each other's backs."

Currently, there are roughly 15 treatments for relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosis but none have proven effective once the disease reaches its progressive form, which is characterized as ongoing symptoms that worsen over time.

Dr. John Corboy, a neurologist at the University of Colorado Hospital, said he's hopeful the global Progressive MS Alliance, which together has invested nearly $25 million in research, will make a breakthrough.

"I'm hopeful we will be reading about MS in the history books," said Dr. Corboy, who is a board member for the National MS Society Colorado/Wyoming Chapter.

He said when he finished his fellowship in 1992 there were zero therapies available for any type of MS. Over the span of his career he's seen incredible progress.

"That's a dramatic change which is comparable to or greater than any other part of all of organized medicine in terms of the leaps that have been made forward," he said.

That progress is providing hope for the Ullal family.

"We want to stay ahead of it, I don't want to see her in a wheelchair," said Neelesh who like his wife, Anuska, is hoping for a cure.

"I'm hopeful that it's going to happen in my lifetime," she said, "I'm hopeful for the next generation. I'm hopeful that it won't happen to my daughter."

The MS Society says funding research is critical. The CBS4-sponsored event starts at Front Range Community College. For more information and to learn about a special registration discount, visit the Bike MS page on CBSDenver.com.

Mark Ackerman is a Special Projects Producer at CBS4. Follow him on Twitter @ackermanmark