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"Being part of a successful experimental medical treatment is something to celebrate.Carol Gross of Morris, who was part of a successful experiment for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, was able to celebrate recently with other participants and the doctors from the University of Chicago.On April 22, at the Embassy Suites in Chicago, she attended a reunion of those involved in the study. Those invited were part of the group who participated in the experimental Betaseron treatment for MS between 1988 and 1993.While Betaseron is not a cure for MS, it is effective in slowing, and in some people, stopping the progression of the disease.For Carol Gross, it has allowed her to continue to live independently, 20 years after she was diagnosed with relapsing-remission MS.%u201CIt is not a cure and it is not a miracle,%u201D she said, %u201Cbut it does work.%u201D She added it is important to go into it with proper expectations.%u201CI think it is remarkable that I am able to tutor and do a little work with the school (Immaculate Conception). I can go out with help,%u201D she said.In 1988, Dr. Barry Arnason of the University of Chicago included her in the experiment to see if Betaseron would be successful in treating MS.Of 48 people included in the study, 16 were given a placebo, 16 were given a partial dose of Betaseron and 16, including Gross, received the full dose."