About Us
Our aim is to stimulate, co-ordinate and support New Zealand-based research into the cause, prevention, treatment, alleviation and cure of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and to obtain and disseminate research findings.
What does the Trust do?
- Collaborates with partners to fund research that helps people with MS;
- Informs people about research findings;
- Uses fact-based research findings to improve the lives of people with MS.
Why was the Trust established?
Before the establishment of the Trust, research for MS had been one of only a number of research strands within organisations that deal with a wide range of neurological or other health conditions. To make a real difference to New Zealanders living with MS, MS research needed a stand-alone Trust that could initiate MS research or collaborate with research partners to fund research opportunities.
How do we promote research?
- Through sharing information with other research organisations or individual researchers, within New Zealand and overseas;
- By consulting and sharing information with organisations in New Zealand representing or supporting people with MS;
- Initiating, encouraging and facilitating research into the application and use of clinical research outputs. In particular, supporting or maintaining practical programmes for the alleviation of the medical, psychological, physical, social, employment or other effects of MS in New Zealand;
- Obtaining, publishing and disseminating papers, articles and other forms of information containing or reporting on research findings;
- Providing research results to health professionals and their organisations with the aim of attracting, educating, and retaining high quality human resources to work with people with MS in our hospitals and in the community;
- Educating people with MS, their families, carers and members of the wider community on the outcomes of research;
- Making submissions or representations to Government, health authorities or other agencies in support of legislation, regulations, funding programmes or practices designed or intended to prevent, treat, cure or alleviate the effects of MS.
Why do research in New Zealand?
New Zealand provides unique opportunities for MS research. Every New Zealander has their own health identifier number enabling the accurate collection and tracking of information and the population base has a a longitudinal spread that is significant in terms of MS research.
A strong research community underpins a strong medical and clinical workforce, and New Zealand needs to attract and retain key clinical doctors and nurses with an interest in MS.
Through its research and by strengthening international links with other MS organisations, the Trust is working to build a strong and respected NZ-based research capability that will make a real difference to the lives of people with MS here.
How are the funds managed?
The MS Community in New Zealand has strongly supported the establishment of the Trust, with MSNZ giving an initial $600,000 and the MS Auckland Region Trust giving $300,000 as seed capital for the Trust in 2015. Both organisations have indicated an intention to provide continuing support with additional funds as these become available.
All money raised by the trust is professionally invested and managed independently under a conservative mandate. The investments are reviewed quarterly, with security of capital and income generation a key driver of investment decisions.
The Trust is a registered charity under the Charities Act 2005 (Reg No CC51849) and donations to the Trust are eligible as deductions for tax purposes.