Findings From the First Global Landscape Analysis of MS Research Funding

Summary: The Global Research Strategy group comprised of MS organizations from around the world conducted the first-ever landscape analysis of MS research funding from government and non-profit organizations, including MS Canada. The study identified over 2,300 MS research projects between 2021-2023 valued at nearly 1.5 billion euros. The majority of funding was allocated to projects belonging to the Pathways to Cures Stop pathway, followed by Restore, then End. This assessment is the first step toward understanding how the global community invests in MS research and provides insight into how funders and researchers can better align resources to optimize impact and speed progress toward MS cures. 

Background: MS organizations from around the world have come together to form a Global Research Strategy group. This group aims to enhance global collaboration and alignment of research investments to accelerate progress towards MS treatments and cures. 

Details: As a key first step, the Global Research Strategy group conducted a landscape analysis of MS research funding across the world to understand the distribution of research investment in MS, particularly with the Pathways to Cures Roadmap (i.e., Stop, Restore, End). The study identified MS research projects funded between 2021 and 2023 by government and non-profit organizations. 

Results: 

  • Over 2,300 MS research projects valued at nearly 1.5 billion euros were identified through 18 government databases and 16 non-profit organizations. 
  • The majority of funding was allocated to projects belonging to the Pathways to Cures Stop pathway, followed by Restore, then End.
  • A small portion of funding also supported research resources such as biorepositories, tissue banks, and registries. 
  • Both government and non-profit organizations invested in projects focusing on fundamental, clinical, and translational research. 

Impact: This assessment is the first step toward understanding how the global community invests in MS research in order to identify potential gaps and opportunities. These findings may provide insight on how the MS community can better align resources to areas of high priority, avoid duplication, optimize our collective impact and speed progress towards MS cures.

Reference:

Article published in: Multiple Sclerosis Journal on July 31, 2024 – The first global landscape analysis of multiple sclerosis research funding. Link to article – here. 

Additional Resources: 

  • See refined Pathways to Cures roadmap – here.
  • See an editorial piece on the refined Pathways to Cures Roadmap and the global landscape analysis in the September issue of the Multiple Sclerosis Journal – here.