Research Overview

Medical research resulting in a cure for MG is the ultimate goal of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of Illinois. Research for the cause and cure of any disease is a multi-stage, long-term process, often beginning with research for better treatments. MGF of Illinois works with its Medical Advisory Board to establish research initiatives to fund.

What research is being done?

Within the federal government, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), one of the Federal Government's National Institutes of Health (NIH), has primary responsibility for conducting and supporting research on myasthenia gravis. Much has been learned about myasthenia gravis in recent years. Technological advances have led to more timely and accurate diagnosis, and new and enhanced therapies have improved management of the disorder. Much knowledge has been gained about the structure and function of the neuromuscular junction, the fundamental aspects of the thymus gland and of autoimmunity, and the disorder itself. Despite these advances, however, there is still much to learn.

The ultimate goal of myasthenia gravis research is to increase scientific understanding of the disorder. Researchers are seeking to learn what causes the autoimmune response in myasthenia gravis, and to better define the relationship between the thymus gland and myasthenia gravis. Today's myasthenia gravis research includes a broad spectrum of studies conducted and supported by NINDS. NINDS scientists are evaluating new and improving current treatments for the disorder. To access the NINDS Myasthenia Gravis fact sheet, which includes general research information, go to the following link.

General information about medical research

If you are interested in basic information about medical research, MedlinePlus provides a short and clearly written checklist with links to additional resources. MedlinePlus is a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health. (NIH) MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, NIH and other government agencies and health-related organizations to help answer health questions. The following link provides a brief overview of clinical research.