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The GAEM Foundation promotes the solidarity of university students with multiple sclerosis

By 5 de March de 2010November 18th, 2020No Comments
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 05.03.2010

The GAEM Foundation promotes the solidarity of university students with multiple sclerosis

The –located at the Barcelona Science Park- will be promoting over the upcoming months of March and April a campaign to raise awareness on this disease titled "University Awareness Week for Research in Multiple Sclerosis". Its objective is to increase the university community´s knowledge and understanding of this disease, which is the second cause of disability in young adults following driving accidents. The Universities who are participating in this campaign are the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and the University of Barcelona. This campaign is endorsed by the Barcelona Science Park, the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, the Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Research Institute Foundation, the Social Welfare programme of La Caixa and the Generalitat de Catalonia.

The campaign includes informative speeches conducted by specialised physicians from the Neuroimmunology Service of the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital that will explain what multiple sclerosis is, its current treatments and new research lines: cell therapy. Additionally, stands with information on this disease will be set up in the different campuses, departments and schools of each university. Furthermore, amongst many other activities, the GAEM Foundation will be organizing the 2nd Edition of Esclerock, a rock concert to benefit multiple sclerosis which aims to disseminate information on this disease and dedicate all its proceeds to research. The 1st Edition of Esclerock was a big success in 2008.

Multiple Sclerosis is a degenerative, chronic and inflammatory disease that destroys the protective substance (myelin) around nervous fibers, in charge of isolating nerves and enabling the quick transmission of nervous impulses. There is no medication that delays or stops its course and it is impossible to prevent. The person suffering from this disease presents decreased mobility, and in more severe cases even complete disability. In Spain there are close to 40,000 people with this disease, 6,000 of them in Catalonia. There are 2,500,000 diagnosed cases worldwide. The GAEM foundation, created in 2006, “aims to obtain funds to finance independent biomedical research projects, with the hopes of finding solutions for multiple sclerosis. It also provides information and support to those living with this disease and their families”, explains Vicens Oliver, president of this organization.

“University Awareness Week for Research in Multiple Sclerosis” Agenda”