The third annual Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) Information Day will be held at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH) on November 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

There is no cost to attend the event, which is open to patients, family members, friends, caregivers or anyone interested in learning more about NMO.

This unique initiative is hosted by Dr. Tony Traboulsee, director of the NMO Clinic and Research Program at Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health.

NMO is a rare immune system disorder.  People affected by NMO can lose vision in one or both eyes (optic neuritis) and can experience numbness/weakness in their arms and legs (transverse myelitis).  It is an unpredictable and chronic disease that is often confused with Multiple Sclerosis. NMO is a distinct disease requiring its own specialized treatment.

Approximately 150 people in BC have been diagnosed with this rare autoimmune disease and most have been referred to the NMO Clinic and Research Program. The NMO Clinic and Research Program at Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain health is the only center in Canada dedicated to the treatment and investigation of NMO.

Under the direction of Dr. Traboulsee, the NMO group aims to raise awareness, educate and disseminate information about the disorder to health care providers and the public.  The program was established in 2009, and was made possible through generous donations from Dr. Susan Diamond and Rick Diamond and the Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation.

“We understand there are significant functional, social and psychological impacts on NMO patients and their family and friends,” says Dr. Traboulsee.  “While information about this disorder is limited, we hope that by bringing together patients, researchers, and clinicians, we can improve our shared understanding and move research and care forward.”

PARTICIPANTS IN THE NMO INFORMATION DAY WILL DISCUSS:

  • Today’s NMO overview: Introduction to NMO, Diagnosis and Symptoms, Treatment Options
  • New NMO research: What is being done worldwide and here in BC
  • Existing advocacy, government, hospital and MS Society resources and support for NMO
  • How to get involved
  • UBC NMO Clinic/Research Program: Update and vision for the future

To attend, register online at: https://nmo-day-1nov14.eventbrite.ca.