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	What Can Science Do For Me? - Multiple Sclerosis (Michelle)	Wed 10 Feb 8:30am

Multiple Sclerosis

Thirty six year-old Michelle Mullen was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 31. Since developing the condition Michelle has had to give up her dreams of becoming a pop star. This film follows her as she goes in search of information about her condition. 

What is MS?
MS is an unpredictable and disabling condition of the nervous system, where cells from the immune system attack nerves in the brain and spinal cord leading to a wide range of neurological problems such as vision loss, paralysis and pain.

What Can Science Do for Michelle?
Michelle’s first stop is the Institute of Neurology in London where she meets Dr. Olga Ciccarelli who is using new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain scanning techniques to get a better understanding of what MS does to the brain.  

She then visits Professor George Ebers at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics to find out what role genes play in causing MS and what trigger factors might also be involved.

At Bristol University, Michelle meets Professor Neil Scolding and gets a glimpse into the potential of using stem cells as a treatment for MS and how they might be able to reverse the disabling effects of the condition.
Finally Michelle visits Plymouth where Professor John Zajicek is conducting a clinical trial into using cannabis extracts for people with MS to see if it can not only protect nerve cells and stop the symptoms of the condition but also help the body heal itself.

Michelle's meetings make her feel positive