Multiple Sclerosis

What do you wear for a 150-mile bike ride? If you're Melissa Friedman, false eyelashes, a bright red wig in braids, striped stockings and a frilly petticoat. Dressed as her alter ego, Tag-along the clown, Friedman was preparing Saturday morning to set out from Huntington State Beach with more than 2,000 other cyclists on a two-day ride down Coast Highway to San Diego. Held by local chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the event is expected to raise about $2 million to fight multiple sclerosis.

A UC Irvine stem cell researcher won a $4.8-million grant to fund research toward a treatment for multiple sclerosis. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine awarded immunologist Thomas Lane, of the campus' Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, an Early Transitional Award last week to create a new line of neural stem cells to treat multiple sclerosis, according to a UCI press release. "I am delighted that [the California Institute] has chosen to support our efforts to advance a novel stem cell-based therapy for multiple sclerosis," Peter Donovan, director of the research center, said in the release.

Venom from sea anemones may yield a new class of drug treatments for multiple sclerosis, one of the most common diseases of the nervous system, according to a study by UC Irvine's College of Medicine and the University of Marseilles, France. Researchers, working with rats, found that a component of venom from a Caribbean sea anemone prevents paralysis in an experimental form of multiple sclerosis. In some rats that were showing signs of paralysis, their function was nearly fully restored.

GETTING INVOLVED runs periodically in the Daily Pilot on a rotating basis. For information on adding your organization to this list, call (949) 574-4298. COSTA MESA CIVIC PLAYHOUSE The playhouse needs volunteers for ushering, backstage work, mailings, typing, controlling lights and many other duties. (949) 650-5269. COSTA MESA HISTORICAL SOCIETY The society preserves and promotes the history of Costa Mesa and the harbor area.

Deirdre Newman While an academic environment is good for research, it's not the ideal setting for raising huge amounts of money. That's why two UC Irvine researchers have abandoned the ivory tower and started a private company to develop a human antibody for the paralyzing effects of multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries. Tom Lane and Hans Keirstead founded Ability Biomedical Corp. and moved into their new office in an Irvine business park this week.

Claudia Figueroa If you were driving through Newport Beach on Memorial Day and noticed a determined man riding an unusual-looking, high-tech bicycle, it was probably Nick Irons. Although he is not a speed racer--averaging about 20 mph--Irons is pedaling around the perimeter of the United States for a worthwhile cause: to seek a cure for multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease of the central nervous system that afflicted his father when Irons was in his early teens.

COSTA MESA CIVIC PLAYHOUSE The playhouse needs volunteers for ushering, backstage work, mailings, typing, controlling lights and many other duties. Information: (949) 650-5269. COSTA MESA HISTORICAL SOCIETY The society preserves and promotes the history of Costa Mesa and the harbor area. Volunteers are needed for the archives, library, museum, docent and public-outreach programs. Information: (949) 631-5918. COSTA MESA LITERACY COUNCIL The Costa Mesa Literacy Center needs volunteer tutors to teach English as a second language.

Bill Bisch was in the midst of throwing a football during a family Thanksgiving game when his legs gave out and he fell face down. The 57-year-old San Juan Capistrano resident was quickly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). "MS changed my life dramatically," he said. "Who plans on retiring at 39?" For the second year in a row, Bisch was the top fundraiser at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's Walk MS event, hosted Saturday at UC Irvine. Along with his wife and sons, and members of Team Momentum, he contributed more than $30,000 to the cause.

A UC Irvine stem cell researcher won a $4.8-million grant to fund research toward a treatment for multiple sclerosis. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine awarded immunologist Thomas Lane, of the campus' Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, an Early Transitional Award last week to create a new line of neural stem cells to treat multiple sclerosis, according to a UCI press release. "I am delighted that [the California Institute] has chosen to support our efforts to advance a novel stem cell-based therapy for multiple sclerosis," Peter Donovan, director of the research center, said in the release.

UC Irvine’s stem cell research center offered a tour Thursday to multiple-sclerosis patients, the people whom its research affects. But the scientists switched hats at times from educator to student. “We invite them in to advise us from time to time,” said Hans Keirstead, a lead stem cell scientist at the center. “Here we are in our ivory tower, spending the public’s money, and we want to make sure we’re accountable.” Eight members of the Principal Coast Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society were given a tour with Keirstead and his fellow researchers that featured a tissue research lab and a state-of-the-art microscope used in stem cell research.

Ann Boroch, author of "Healing Multiple Sclerosis: Diet, Detox and Nutritional Makeover for Total Recovery," will discuss her natural recovery from multiple sclerosis at 6 p.m. tonight at Barnes and Noble in Costa Mesa. Boroch was diagnosed with the crippling autoimmune disease at 24 and told she would likely spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. Within four years, she was symptom-free and has stayed that way, and shares her struggles and solutions in her new book. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, about 400,000 Americans have the chronic disease, and 200 more are diagnosed each week.

What do you wear for a 150-mile bike ride? If you're Melissa Friedman, it's false eyelashes, a bright red wig in braids, striped stockings and a frilly petticoat. Dressed as her alter ego, Tag-along the clown, Friedman was preparing Saturday morning to set out from Huntington State Beach with more than 2,000 other cyclists on a two-day ride down the Coast Highway to San Diego. Sponsored by local chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the event raised more than $2 million to fight multiple sclerosis.

GETTING INVOLVED runs periodically in the Daily Pilot on a rotating basis. For information about adding your organization to this list, call (714) 966-4600. ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF NEWPORT-MESA Volunteers seeking to define a sense of purpose, realize personal development and make connections with like-minded women are welcome. A variety of volunteer skills are needed on a daily basis at the league's dental clinic, thrift shop and consignment store.

COSTA MESA CIVIC PLAYHOUSE The playhouse needs volunteers for ushering, backstage work, mailings, typing, controlling lights and many other duties. Information: (949) 650-5269. COSTA MESA HISTORICAL SOCIETY The society preserves and promotes the history of Costa Mesa and the harbor area. Volunteers are needed for the archives, library, museum, docent and public-outreach programs. Information: (949) 631-5918. COSTA MESA LITERACY COUNCIL The Costa Mesa Literacy Center needs volunteer tutors to teach English as a second language.

STEVE SMITH The last thing that Newport Beach or Costa Mesa needs is another legalized drug. But the exception to this is to allow medical marijuana to be dispensed in either town. The issue of a medical marijuana dispensary came up recently and even made it to the May 24 agenda of the Newport Beach City Council meeting. The proposal was to allow 45 days for an examination of the ramifications of such a facility. There are several sides to this issue, one that is undoubtedly going to be unfairly painted as a backdoor attempt to legalize pot. Expect that assertion but don't let it interfere with your examination of the facts.