Research on the causes, possible cures and ways of managing Multiple Sclerosis has increased dramatically in recent years. Much of the information that has advanced our understanding of Multiple Sclerosis  has come from what is called basic research – general knowledge of how the brain and central nervous system work and, more recently, how susceptibility to disease may be transmitted genetically. By research, we mean scientific research predominantly conducted by universities, scientific research centres and pharmaceutical (drug) companies. Results of this work are normally published in scientific journals through a process called ‘peer review’, which means that the work is always subject to critical scrutiny and assessment by other scientists. Through this means, new ideas or theories about MS can be thoroughly evaluated and tested.