May 30, 2022 –
With approximately one in 400 Canadians living with MS and increasing rates of diagnosis, World Multiple Sclerosis Day is very close to home for many. Today, May 30, is a day to talk about this devastating disease and to educate ourselves.
Rick Woo
The UM alum family Rick Woo is directly affected by MS. His daughter-in-law, Claire Larson, a UM kinesiology graduate herself, was diagnosed with MS at a young age and lived with the disease for many years. The Woo family is witnessing the consequences they may suffer, but it was her resilience that inspired them to create and fund a multiple sclerosis research department at their alma mater. The aim of this paper is to learn more about MS and how it affects patients living with other comorbidities in order to improve the quality of life.
Asked why World Multiple Sclerosis Day is important, Woo said: “It can mobilize and raise awareness of the importance of funding, which we hope will raise enough internationally to end the Council of Ministers.
In 2016, Dr. Ruth Ann Marie was awarded the WO Family Chair for Multiple Sclerosis to advance in this vital study. The donation to create this chair has allowed Dr. Marie to focus her time and resources on how concomitant health conditions such as depression / anxiety disorders, diabetes or heart disease can affect the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of MS patients.
“Our findings show that if we effectively detect and treat people’s depressive / anxiety disorders, we can dramatically improve their quality of life,” says Dr. Marie. “Our findings also suggest that other concomitant health conditions, such as diabetes, also affect MS. So all of this really raises the question of whether doing something about these comorbid conditions can actually make MS better.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the availability of research resources over the past two years, but this special funding ensures that Dr. Marie’s research can continue.
“There have been many ups and downs with research resources, so this funding was important to allow us to keep our team together and keep their experience in our research field,” says Dr. Marie.
Not only does Canada have a high incidence of MS, but the provinces of Manitoba have the highest number of cases per capita in the country, which is another reason why Woo and his family chose to return. Although he lives in Toronto after moving to be CEO of Scotiabank, retired Woo believes that philanthropy plays a key role in the future of healthcare, and UM is taking these steps.
“Our family’s focus is on people,” says Woo. “That’s why the chair aims to make the right people make the difference. Funding for research can lead to a positive change in people’s health on a daily basis through diagnosis, treatment and waiting times. “
Days like World Multiple Sclerosis Day are a reminder that more needs to be done. Researchers like Dr. Marie and her team are taking steps, but funding is the only way they can really move the needle of MS.
Employees of UM Today
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