March 10, 2006

Pediatric MS Center named a Center of Excellence

The National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society recently honored the Partners Pediatric
MS Center at the MGH as one of six Pediatric MS Centers of Excellence. The centers will join together to form a first-of-its-kind collaborative network of hospital-based pediatric MS programs to provide children with MS and related diseases with the best possible medical, emotional, social and mental support. As a Center of Excellence, the Partners program also will receive a nearly $1.6 million grant over five years to support its current activities and future research.

The collaborative approach of the centers will allow children with MS to receive coordinated and comprehensive care in one location. To facilitate this integrated care approach, centers will utilize the same set of clinical assessment tools, and research activities will be shared across the network. The centers also will serve as clearing houses for information about childhood MS and will provide educational resources for health professionals in the region.

"Our team is very excited to take part in this initiative," says Tanuja Chitnis, MD, director of the Partners Pediatric MS Center. "We anticipate that this project will provide much needed information about MS and demyelinating disorders in childhood."