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Multiple Sclerosis Australia, better known as MS Australia, is a national not-for-profit organisation that seeks to empower researchers to identify ways to treat, prevent and cure MS. MS Australia became a registered Australian charity in 1975 and seeks sustained and systemic policy change via ongoing national advocacy. There are over 25,000 people living with MS in Australia and MS Australia serves as the peak body for all Australians living with or otherwise affected by MS.

The organisation describes its approach as being to support ‘Australia’s strengths within the context of the global MS research effort, build the Australian MS research network and tackle a number of broad research goals.’ These research goals cover: -	ascertaining how to better diagnose and treat MS, including symptom management and the promotion of rehabilitation -	predicting and preventing MS -	developing strategies to promote cell repair and regeneration.

MS Australia encourages a national collaborative effort into MS research. The organisation seeks to empower researchers to make discoveries not possible when working alone by inviting individual research teams to apply for support while also supporting major ‘platform’ projects.

His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the current patron of MS Australia.

Founding What is today called MS Australia was first established as the Australian MS Society in 1956, with the first general meeting held in February 1957. Nine years earlier, a young American woman called Sylvia Lawry founded the USA’s National Multiple Sclerosis Society in New York in 1947, co-founding the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation the same year. Soon after followed the establishment of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada in 1948 and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain in 1953. The Australian MS Society was therefore only the fourth society globally to be established for multiple sclerosis support and advocacy.

Research
MS research seeks to address treatment and prevention of the disease and the management of its many symptoms, as well as trying to find a cure. Research into MS encompasses immunology, neurobiology, genetics, and epidemiology, and extends across clinical and allied health disciplines.