Italian MS Society, AISM, through its Foundation (FISM) promotes and supports innovative basic and applied research, aimed at improving the quality of life and therapies and, in the long term, at identifying a resolving cure for multiple sclerosis.

FISM play a key role in the MS national and international research system, promoting scientific research of excellence to obtain a concrete impact on people with MS.

In line with this objective, a global research agenda has been finalized and resources have been targeted in strategic and innovative areas. In 2015, the AISM Movement published the 2020 SM Agenda that incorporates the priorities of the Global Research Agenda and identifies the strategic activities to decline them into the national context.

The FISM research strategic map, highlights the importance of applying diversified research funding models to achieve concrete benefits for people with MS. This includes different levels of Foundation involvement in the selection of initiatives and research projects to be promoted and financed (portfolio management) and in the projects scientific and administrative management (project management).

Diversified models of research promotion and funding aimed at:

Fund and forget

Investigator driven in nature and characterized solely by financial contributions to academia/non-profit organizations (bottom-up and trust-based approach).

Select and oversee
The portfolio is driven by the foundation/people with MS (top-down and trust-based approach).

Open and integrate

The foundation also works with other funding agencies to sustain key research infrastructures and resources to develop and advance projects. Characterized by high-level engagement with for-profit organizations (bottom-up and control-based approach).

Commit and integrate

The foundation is actively involved in the development and management of both portfolio and projects in collaboration with other key stakeholders (top-down and control-based approach).

Zaratin P, Battaglia M.A. and Abbracchio MP, Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 2014 – Cell Press

Last updated november 2019