As we approach the end of another big year, it’s appropriate to reflect on some of the milestones that are helping propel us faster and further down the pathways to cures.
All these have been made possible with the amazing support of the MS community, including our hard-working Member Organisations, donors, supporters and partners.
In 2025, we:
- Announced $5.7m of funding for a record number of MS research grants.
- Saw the first participants enrol in PLATYPUS, the Australian extension of the UK’s cutting-edge OCTOPUS clinical trial, designed to find effective treatments for progressive MS, supported by MSWA.
- Worked with MS Canada to establish the new multi-million-dollar global MS prevention and early detection initiative.
- Released the Living Well with MS guide at Government House in Canberra.
- Launched InforMS, a platform enabling participants with MS to track health data, share insights with care teams and contribute anonymous data to research.
- Helped drive change with six major submissions to the Federal Parliament and Government Departments and agencies, frequently referenced and influencing policy across aged care, disability and the PBS.
- Released a major new report, commissioned from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, giving new MS prevalence and economic impact data for Australia.
- Played a significant role in the development the Neurological Alliance’s new Blueprint for a national neurological action plan for Australia, launched at Parliament House in September.
- Ran, walked and rolled our way to another successful May50K, helping to raise much-needed funding to support world-class MS research.
- Commenced a major review of our highly-regarded research program to ensure that every dollar we allocate gets the best bang for your buck when it comes to achieving real and lasting progress in MS research.
As we approach stumps to another busy year, I want to pay tribute to members of our Lived Experience Expert Panel (LEEP).
Now numbering almost 60 people living with MS, the LEEP helps ensure that the lived experience voice is embedded in all we do, from research, to policy development, communications and advocacy.
A big thank you, too, to our hard-working Board Chair, George Pampacos, and all our Board directors. Individually, they are outstanding in their contribution to the MS cause. Collectively, they are stellar.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to all in the MS community, including our wonderful MS Member Organisations, that do so much to support our research and advocacy missions.
You are engaged, committed, passionate and dedicated. Your feedback and support is greatly valued.
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
We looked forward to working hard to make 2026 another big year as we collectively commit to a world without MS.
