Workshop: High-Impact
Research to Change Lives
November 8, 2014
Learning Objectives: Participants should leave energized by progress occurring in MS
research, and should be able to inspire others by explaining in simple terms several promising
areas of research and the Society’s role in driving progress.
About Our Panelists
Mark Allegretta, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President of Commercial Research, National MS Society
Mark’s responsibilities include providing leadership and direction for the Society’s commercial
research programs and portfolio, including partnerships developed through Fast Forward. He
joined the Society in 2014 with 28 years of experience in biotechnology and pharmaceutical
operations. Most recently, he was President, Chief Scientific Officer and Co-founder of
BioMosaics in Burlington, Vermont, where he dealt with all aspects of cancer biomarker
development, licensing deals and business partnerships. Mark earned his Bachelor’s degree
from Hartwick College and his PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of
Vermont. He was the recipient of a National MS Society postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford
University.
Douglas Landsman, Ph.D.
Senior Director, International Research Programs, National MS Society
Doug’s responsibilities include working closely with our international partners to implement the
Progressive MS Alliance’s scientific strategies. He joined the Society in 2014 with over 12 years
of experience in the patient advocacy organization sector. Prior to joining the Society Doug was
the Director of Special Initiatives at the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and previously
the Director of Individual Research Grants there. In this capacity he led the Foundation’s
international research programs targeting basic and clinical research in spinal cord injury. In
addition to managing their funding programs, he was responsible for organizing the Foundation’s
efforts to connect spinal cord researchers with patient stakeholders. Doug received his PhD in
neuroscience from the University of Maryland, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of
Pennsylvania focusing on mechanisms of nerve regeneration after injury.
Michael Racke, M.D.
Professor, Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University
An international leader in neurological sciences, Mike is a distinguished scholar known for his
research in immunology and multiple sclerosis. He serves on the executive committee of the
Multiple Sclerosis Section of the American Academy of Neurology and the National MS Society’s
Research Programs Advisory Committee. He has previously served on scientific advisory
committees for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the National Institutes of Health. He
has received the prestigious Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholarship from the National MS
Society and the Young Investigator in Multiple Sclerosis Award from the American Academy of
Neurology Education and Research Foundation. Mike is investigating the pathogenesis of MS
with an eye toward developing new and better therapies. Mike is being inducted into the
Volunteer Hall of Fame as a researcher – an honor he previously received as an MS physician
with the Lone Star Chapter.
Claude M. Schofield Ph.D.
Director of Discovery Research, National MS Society
Claude’s responsibilities include managing the Society’s biomedical research grant portfolio. A
neuroscientist by training, he began his career as a biomedical researcher as an undergraduate
at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he earned a degree in Molecular Biology. He
earned a doctorate in Neuroscience from Cornell University’s Weill Graduate in New York City,
studying the physiology and pharmacology of ion channels. He went on to complete postdoctoral
fellowships at Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco, where his
research focused on understanding the cellular and molecular basis of neurological disease. His
studies have been published in Journal of Neuroscience, Proceedings of the National Academies
of Science, and Neural Development. Claude joined the Society in 2012 and brings over 14 years
of experience in biomedical research. Among his current duties, he oversees the pilot grant
program, which focuses on funding high-risk, technologically innovative scientific projects in
neuroscience, immunology and associated disciplines relevant to multiple sclerosis research.
Questions? Cathy Carlson, AVP of Research Information cathy.carlson@nmss.org
Additional Resources
Online Research Champion Video and Training Module:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Research/Research-We-Fund/How-We-Fund-Research-NOWCampaign/Become-a-Research-Champion
Research News and Progress: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Research/Research-NewsProgress
Learn About Research the Society Funds to Stop MS, Restore Function and End MS Forever:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Research/Research-We-Fund
Research in Progressive MS: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Research/Research-NewsProgress/Progressive-MS-Research
Progressive MS Alliance: http://www.endprogressiveMS.org
Nervous System Repair: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Research/Research-WeFund/Restoring-What-s-Been-Lost/Repairing-Damaged-Tissues
Wellness and Lifestyle Research: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Research/Research-NewsProgress/Diet/Wellness-and-Lifestyle
Driving Commercial Research: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Research/Research-WeFund/Driving-Solutions/Driving-Commercial-Progress
The NOW Campaign to Move Research Forward Faster:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/NationalMSSociety/media/MSNationalFiles/Brochures/MSNOW-Brochure_2014.pdf