The MS Stand-Up Campaign

The MS Stand-up campaign is raising money needed to complete ongoing investigations directed by Dr. Tim Vartanian.  Scientists at Vartanian Lab at Weill Cornell Medicine in collaboration with scientists at The Rockefeller University are doing innovative investigations that are not being conducted at other labs. There is a whole set of unmet research needs that are critical to the MS research ecosystem.  Most are not sexy, but without them, MS research will not go forward. The money raised is going to the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College & Graduate School of Medical Science of Cornell University for use in research at the direction of Dr. Timothy Vartanian. Each year MBPF evaluates where its fundraising efforts are best put to use.

This campaign to raise $3MM has always been a team effort between Regina and Ian, their neurologist Tim Vartanian, and you - all our friends and family. 

Regina’s sister Grace, the CEO of Slingr.io, and her VP of Sales, David Doerre came up with the idea to use comedy as a way to take our fundraising in a different direction. David was involved in the comedy scene in LA and through his inspiration, we put together a Comedy club benefit.  We have renamed the “$3MM Campaign” to support the ongoing MS research at Weill Cornell Medicine to “MS Stand-Up.”

We contacted Gotham Comedy Club, and they gave us our mandate - fill the 300 seats at Gotham, and they would furnish us with some of the best comedians in NYC for a show - the first annual Standup MS comedy benefit on Monday, Sep 18, 2023.

At the same time, we need to get the word out there about what the money is going to accomplish.  David created a video series of the scientific investigators at Weill Cornell and The Rockefeller University, explaining the importance of the research they are doing for MS.  You can watch those videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@mindbrainfoundation

Standup MS is not just about the scientists.  We want to hear the voices of people who have MS, the ones who help care for those with MS, and the folks who support those with MS and their families.

Standup MS is facilitating just that, Standing Up. With compassion, knowledge, and of course money, scientific research is going to make the difference between a life of continuing debilitation, and one that reclaims lost ability from MS. 

Stay tuned for the friends with MS interviews. Get the real story behind having MS, and what better therapies could mean for people with MS - MSers.