Cures Within Reach Supports Life-Changing Research for MS at Rush University Medical Center

SKOKIE, Ill. - Sept. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Cures Within Reach, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to medical research repurposing existing drugs and devices for new indications.  Their experience has shown that repurposing often delivers successful treatments and cures to patients, costs less than the development of a “new” treatment, and takes significantly less time.

In 2009, Cures Within Reach (then Partnership for Cures) funded a 9-patient pilot clinical trial at the University of Madison, testing a device called the PoNS (Portable NeuroModulation Stimulator) to see if it would improve movement, gait and balance for patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

The PoNS device, is a third generation device that first was employed displaying images captured by a video camera on the surface of the tongue, allowing to blind people “see.”   The second generation device was used to help those with impairment of the vestibular system, which helps humans to balance and stand up without falling over.

The PoNS device is placed in the mouth during 20-30 minutes of physical therapy exercises and provides continuous mild electric stimulation of the tongue.  Those stimuli are sent via the facial nerves to the brain and greatly enhance the benefits of the PT, supporting the brain to swiftly repair damaged neural connections.

All nine of the patients in the initial pilot clinical trial experienced significant improvement, and since that time, additional studies have been completed at both the University of Madison and the University of Nebraska confirming these results.  The Department of Defense has also funded a larger study currently in process testing the device’s potential as a treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Rush University Medical Center is adding the PoNS device into a current Multiple Sclerosis study, and Dr. James Young, Chairman of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rush University Medical Center, is excited about this device’s potential. “In recent years, it has become clear that neuro-stimulation during physical therapy is the secret to real improvement in neural pathway repair.  This device can be modulated to each individual, and comfortably used on an ongoing basis, offering great potential for restored function,” comments Dr. Young.

Dr. Bruce Bloom, President and Chief Science Officer of Cures Within Reach: “It’s gratifying to see the expansion of this research since our funding of the  initial pilot clinical trial.  The project at Rush will hopefully generate data that will help secure FDA-approval for the PoNS device for neurological conditions.”

About Cures Within Reach:

Cures Within Reach is dedicated to saving the lives of millions of people affected by both complex and rare conditions for which there are no effective treatments.  Leading the field of Rediscovery Research™, Cures Within Reach rapidly develops effective, safe and affordable treatments for immediate patient use, by sourcing, validating, and stewarding medical research that repurposes available drugs, devices and treatments.  To learn more, visit: www.cureswithinreach.org


About Rush University:

Rush’s University Medical Center mission is to provide the best possible care for its patients.  Educating tomorrow’s health care professional, researching new and more advanced treatment options, transforming its facilities and investing in new technologies—all are undertaken with the drive to improve patient care now, and for the future.  Rush has more than 6,000 employees and faculty.

Rush is a not-for-profit enterprise comprising Rush University Medical Center, Rush University, Rush Oak Park Hospital and Rush Health.  Located one mile west of Chicago’s Loop, Rush encompasses a 664-bed hospital serving adults and children. The 376-bed Tower building opened in 2012 as part of a major, ten-year campus redevelopment.

Rush University, with more than 2,000 students, is the academic component of Rush University Medical Center. Rush University is a health sciences university offering more than 30 unique degree or certificate options in medicine, nursing, allied health and biomedical research. The university is distinct for its practitioner-teacher model, translational research, nurturing academic environment and focus on community and global health.

To learn more, visit: http://www.rush.edu/


Media Contact:

Amy Conn, Director of Advancement

Cures Within Reach

847-745-1246

amy@cureswithinreach.org