Dr. Ilana Katz Sand
It is my privilege and pleasure to care for people living with multiple sclerosis. Part of my commitment to do my best for my patients involves research to better the lives of all people living with this challenging illness. My research in the last few years has focused on how we can best use diet and other lifestyle factors to help improve long-term prognosis, as well as the way people feel on a daily basis.
My husband Michael and I were extremely honored to run the 2025 NYC Marathon to raise funds for this important research. It was our first marathon, and I battled a bum ankle all summer, so it might not have been the fastest or prettiest performance, but we were excited to give it our best on race day. The training was very challenging! I learned a lot about my body, mental toughness, discipline, and pushing my limits. My family was very supportive, and it was amazing to see them and our friends out there on race day.
I am the lead investigator on a new study, which is an interventional clinical trial of the MIND diet for people living with multiple sclerosis. The MIND diet is a Mediterranean pattern that focuses on components that we believe are important for brain health and limits those that we think are not healthy for the brain.
Our preliminary work suggests that this dietary pattern may be of benefit in MS by reducing neuroinflammation and protecting the brain against neurodegeneration. In addition, our initial work indicates that this type of diet also reduces common symptoms of MS such as fatigue, cognitive fog, and mood changes.
We are determined to move this work forward because knowledge gives people with MS more options. But changing one’s diet requires meaningful support. We believe dietitian services and related resources should be more widely covered by insurance, since most plans offer limited or no coverage for an MS diagnosis.
We are grateful for funding from the National MS Society, but the award did not fully cover the trial. Funds raised through the marathon have enabled us to provide participants with additional support and expand the study’s laboratory testing.
Our family and friends have been very generous and we are so appreciative.
I am really proud that my husband and I did this together and that we were able to raise funds for this study, which has the potential to benefit everyone living with MS.
Inspired by Dr. Katz Sand’s commitment to her patients and the broader MS community, 100 supporters raised more than $45,000 for her research, reflecting the same spirit of engagement and perseverance she and her husband brought to the race. And while this was Dr. Katz Sand’s first marathon, it was not her first running fundraiser. In summer 2024, she raised $19,263 through 55 gifts for the C. Olsten Patient Wellness Program at the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center. This fall, she will raise funds for Grassroots Grocery, a local nonprofit providing food to families in communities served by Mount Sinai. She is also applying for the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center to become an official charity partner, allowing a full team to fundraise for the Center in the 2027 marathon.
As Dr. Katz Sand advances her research and patient care initiatives advocating for improved support systems, her many efforts offer hope and encouragement to individuals facing the challenges of multiple sclerosis.
