The mission of the Rocky Mountain MS Center (RMMSC) is to improve the quality of life of individuals and their families living with MS and related neurological diseases through care, support, education and research.
 
Founded in 1978, the RMMSC now works in partnership with the University of Colorado Hospital and Anschutz Medical Campus, building a comprehensive model of care that’s changing the way the world treats multiple sclerosis.
 
Care: The Rocky Mountain MS Center Clinic at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is an internationally-recognized Center of Excellence in MS treatment and research. Our world renowned doctors at clinics throughout the Denver Metro area are providing state of the art medical care through over 10,000 patient visits per year. Additionally, the King Adult Day Enrichment Program (KADEP) provides a place for clients to function independently and enhance their quality of life.

Support: We offer MS-specific counseling and support services to clients and their families. Our legal program helps people with MS navigate the process of applying for Social Security Disability Insurance. Our hydrotherapy program is unique in metro Denver and a highlight for our KADEP clients.

Education: Our reach throughout the Rocky Mountain Region continues through MS101 classes, Conversations on MS sessions, annual education seminars, e-newsletters for patients and the general public, and InforMS - our quarterly magazine with a worldwide distribution.

Research: Our cutting-edge research program - one of the largest in the world - conducts basic science, clinical trials and translational research to find effective MS treatments, working toward the development of a vaccine that may lead to an MS cure. Annually we conduct over 40 research studies with more than 700 patient participants. The results from this work are driving our medical care approach to maximize lifelong brain health through comprehensive care, which supports the brain's ability to protect and repair itself and promotes quality of life for patients and their families.

You might be interested in reading Rocky Mountain MS Center's newsletters:
InforMS Summer issue
InforMS Fall issue
 
Here is a link to contact the Rocky Mountain MS Center: http://www.mscenter.org/contact-us
The Andrew C. Carlos MS Institute at Shepherd Center (Atlanta, GA)

The Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute at Shepherd Center has extensive experience treating people with multiple sclerosis (MS), suspected MS or related disorders. We have treated thousands of people with MS using a wide range of neurological and rehabilitative services. The MS Institute believes that early and appropriate treatment results in better quality of life for people with MS and may protect against future illness. Our staff of medical professionals works aggressively to slow the progression of the disease. Treatment options focus on medications, physical rehabilitation (including strength and energy conservation, health and wellness) and experimental therapies. The MS Institute offers comprehensive evaluations, diagnostics, rehabilitation services and treatment options through FDA-approved drugs and new clinical trials. 

While there is no cure for MS, it is treatable. Treatments can slow the progression of the disease and make a difference in people’s lives. Treatment Options offered by our MS Institute include: Medical Management, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Wellness Program, Case Management, Neuropsychological & Counseling Services, Patient and Family Education, Seating Clinic, Urology Clinic, MRI, Vocational Counseling, Research Opportunities LINK TO SHEPHERD CENTER MS INSTITUTE

Clinical Trials in MS

Our MS research activities include clinical trials related to cutting-edge therapies such as investigational medications, new cell therapies, and new devices. We support basic and applied research efforts in MS that are scientifically sound, safeguard the welfare of research participants, and have the potential to advance the field of rehabilitation medicine. Ismari Clesson, RN, MSCN, CCRP,  Director of Clinical Research, and her team of clinical trial nurses and coordinators oversee 12 trials related to MS.

To learn more about clinical trials at Shepherd Center, please go to: http://www.shepherd.org/research/clinical-trials

The Eula C. & Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation and Wellness Program

The MS Institute Rehabilitation and Wellness Program at Shepherd Center is a dedicated program for the rehabilitative treatment and wellness of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and related diagnoses. We believe that rehabilitation and wellness provide tools patients need to take control of their MS, whether that is through restoring lost function, learning tools to adapt to where you are functionally or continuing to remain healthy from a fitness standpoint.

The MS Wellness Program is designed to assist individuals living with MS to learn to manage their health, improve day-to-day function, and gain strength in both a physical and psychosocial sense. Under the guidance of an exercise physiologist, this comprehensive program will teach participants exercises that are appropriate for their physical abilities and promote self-awareness. The program empowers patients to stay active and decrease the effects of deconditioning. Clients benefit from the MS specific group fitness classes, including land and aquatic classes. Many people enjoy the fact that our pool is cooled on the days MS wellness classes meet, decreasing risk of heat-related symptoms. Educational classes are offered on a rolling schedule, providing access to information that is up-to-date and trustworthy. The wellness program has a focus on research, as well.

Educational class examples include: Symptom Management, Energy Conservation, Exercise Guidelines, Vocational Issues in MS, Community Resources, Research in MS, Treatments on the Horizons, Therapeutic Recreation and MS

Exercise class examples include: Core Strengthening, Lower-Extremity Strengthening, Cardio, Yoga, Aquatics

MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Research

The MS rehabilitation and wellness research program was set into motion in 2012 with the generous donation and support of the Carlos family. Our research mission supports that of the clinical program and is to do research to improve the health, wellness and quality of life in all people with MS. To that end, our MS researchers are not only engaged in clinical trials that explore the efficacy of medical interventions and devices, but also in studies of vocation and quality of life, and the benefits and effects of exercise and rehabilitation interventions for people with MS (figure below). A concerted effort is also made to disseminate research findings (knowledge translation) to people with MS, as well as MS healthcare providers, caregivers, and payers in order to optimize function and quality of life for all people living with MS.

Shepherd Center’s research program is unique in that it is truly an integration of clinical and research endeavors. Led by Deborah Backus, PT, PhD, FACRM, this integrated team of physical and occupational therapists, exercise specialists, physicians, and collaborators from various related fields and institutions endeavors to answer meaningful questions that can be translated into clinical practice. 

Our collaborators are a major strength of the MS research program at Shepherd Center, and include:
  • Abiodun Akintuwan, PhD, MPH, Georgia Reagents University, Georgia, USA
  • Ilse Baert, PhD, and Peter Feys, PhD, Universiteit Hasselt, Biomedical Research Institute, Belgium
  • James Krause, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina, South Carolina, USA
  • Kevin McCully, PhD, University of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, USA
  • Laura Rice, PhD, MPT, ATP and Jacob Sosnoff, PhD, University of Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
  • Manning Sabatier, PhD, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Ongoing research studies:
  • Impact of Massage Therapy on Fatigue, Pain and Spasticity in People with Multiple Sclerosis - Funded by Massage Therapy Foundation, Principal investigator (PI): Deborah Backus, PT, PhD, FACRM
  • Assessment and rehabilitation of fitness-to-drive in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - Funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, PI: Abiodun Akinwuntan, PhD, MPH 
  • Successful Employment And Quality Work Life After Severe Disability: Comparison Of Predictive Models With Multiple Sclerosis And Spinal Cord Injury Stage I: Qualitative Assessment of Policy Factors and Employment Outcomes - Funded by the National Institute Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), PI: James Krause, PhD

Internally funded projects:
  • Psychometric properties of outcome measures for mobility in people with MS, in collaboration with Research in Multiple Sclerosis, A European network for best practice and research. Co-PIs: Ilse Baert, PhD and Peter Feys, PhD
  • The Effect of Functional Electrical Stimulation on Neural Function in People with MS: Measurements of Changes in Spasticity. PI: Manning Sabatier, PhD  
  • Study of the Efficacy of Functional Electrical Stimulation in People with MS to Inform Clinical Application. PI: Deborah Backus, PT, PhD, FACRM
  • Falls in Non-Community Ambulators and Wheelchair Users, in collaboration with University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, PI: Laura Rice, PT, PhD 
  • Mitochondrial Capacity: A Predictor of Functional Status in People with MS, Co-PIs: Deborah Backus, PT, PhD, FACRM and Kevin McCully, PhD