{"id":10364,"date":"2023-11-02T15:39:18","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T15:39:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kompetenznetz-multiplesklerose.de\/about-us\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T11:03:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T11:03:54","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.kompetenznetz-multiplesklerose.de\/en\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About us"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Association<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Study centers<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The association<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A portrait of the KKNMS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Network<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Interdisciplinary networking of MS research<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is still incurable and the causes of the disease are still not sufficiently understood. The individual course is therefore difficult to predict. According to projections, at least 200,000 people in Germany are affected – two thirds of whom are women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a network of German universities, scientific institutions and associated MS treatment centers, we want to change this situation. The focus of our projects is therefore on the long-term improvement of MS diagnosis, treatment and quality of care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Disease-Related Competence Network Multiple Sclerosis (Krankheitsbezogenes Kompetenznetz Multiple Sklerose; KKNMS) is one of the competence networks in medicine that was initiated by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to bring together researchers on specific diseases on a nationwide and interdisciplinary basis with the aim of improving patient care.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Ensuring continuity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The non-profit association Krankheitsbezogenes Kompetenznetz Multiple Sklerose e.V. as a separate legal entity provides the KKNMS with the necessary capacity to act and ensures the sustainability of the network and the project work – even beyond the period of completed BMBF funding (2009 to 2019). The KKNMS e.V. was founded in Munich at the beginning of the first BMBF funding period in March 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The KKNMS is the point of contact for doctors, companies, patients and associations and has the task of further networking MS research in Germany and ensuring the rapid transfer of new findings into practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current registered office of the association is in M\u00fcnster.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Funding<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Financing the network<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The KKNMS was initiated by the BMBF and initially largely financed by public funding. These were primarily earmarked for research projects, cohort and registry studies and the network’s infrastructure. The free services offered by the KKNMS for quality assurance in MS care (e.g. the quality manual) are financed by donations. Today, the KKKNMS is a purely donation-funded association. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The KKNMS was supported by the BMBF from 2009. In the first funding period from 2009 to 2012, the network received EUR 7.4 million in support for the first research projects and the development of the network infrastructure. The application for an extension of funding from the BMBF for 2013 to 2015 was approved – with a sum of EUR 7.3 million, the KKNMS was able to continue research projects and initiate new ones. In the third funding phase from 2016 to 2019, the network was awarded a total of EUR 7.2 million, enabling a total of 21 clinical and basic research projects to be carried out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, the KKNMS has endeavored to stabilize its activities by establishing alternative financing options. The foundation of a non-profit association allows the network to become active in the area of fundraising and to raise donations. Since 2020, the KKNMS has been financed exclusively by donations. It receives these from both private individuals and companies. Further information on this can be found in the annual reports of the KKNMS e.V.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current sponsors and supporting members of the KKNMS e.V. are for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Annual reports<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Articles of association<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Donations<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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People<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Management Board<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The KNNMS Board of Directors consists of seven members and was elected in its current composition by the General Assembly on December 2, 2025 for the next three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n