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MSSNI appoints medical adviser in a bid to boost research

The MS Society Northern Ireland has appointed a medical adviser in bid to boost research

Belfast City Council also vocalise support for the MS Society Northern Ireland

The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society Northern Ireland has appointed Dr Stanley Hawkins, a clinical neurologist from Queen’s University, as its medical adviser. The announcement was made at a ceremony at Belfast City Hall with the High Sheriff of Belfast, who was diagnosed with MS ten years ago, by Dr Hawkins.

Dr Hawkins, who has more than 25 years’ experience investigating MS, met the High Sheriff, Jim Kirkpatrick today to discuss the MS Society’s research plans for the future. Councillor Kirkpatrick also announced that the City Council will support the MS Society by donating the use of the Waterfront Hall for a fundraising event in June of next year.

MS is a relapsing or progressive disabling condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the central nervous system, disrupting signals from the brain. Symptoms include pain, fatigue, loss of mobility and feeling, depression, muscle spasms, depression and more. The cause of MS in unclear, and there is no cure and few treatments.

Dr Hawkins said:

“Over the last 50 years the number of people being diagnosed with MS in Northern Ireland has risen substantially. In fact, the prevalence here is one of the highest in the world. This means we have excellent opportunities to study the epidemiology of the condition.

“Research suggests the chance of a woman born in Northern Ireland developing MS is as high as one in 200. While there is some research underway here, we need to do far more if we are to improve our understanding of the condition."

“I am looking forward to working with the MS Society Northern Ireland to help them develop and promote more and better research.”

The MS Society’s UK board of trustees recently voted to invest funds in setting up an MS research fellow in Northern Ireland. The Society’s research department hopes to launch one of three UK pilots of a new MS register here in the near future."

High Sheriff Jim Kirkpatrick said:

“I am delighted that Dr Hawkins will be advising the MS Society Northern Ireland in a bid to increase MS research in Northern Ireland. He diagnosed me with the disease ten years ago and he has been a great help to me personally over the years. I know that his appointment as an advisor to the MS Society will be a major boost for all those who suffer from the disease throughout Northern Ireland.”

“Research into MS offers the best hope of finding out why it strikes and what can be done to treat it. A diagnosis of MS can be devastating and at the moment we don’t understand enough about it. It’s great that the MS Society is prepared to take up that challenge and match it with investment.”


Councillor Kirkpatrick said that he was pleased to offer the use of the Waterfront Hall to the MS Society for a fundraising event next June. Welcoming the offer, Paul Woods of MS Society said that the charity was very grateful.

“On behalf of the MS Society I would like to thank Jim and Belfast City Council for their continued support. We have big plans for next year’s event, and for the MS Society in Northern Ireland overall. The establishment of Dr Stanley Hawkins as an advisor is a crucial element in our plans for the future, and we will have further announcements to make shortly."

ENDS.