Telomere length as a sign of biological aging in children with multiple sclerosis

Competing interests: MR has served as a speaker or consultant for Serono, Novartis, Genentech, Genzyme, Horizon, TG Therapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cycle and Sanofi, and has received funding from the National MS Society and Roche for research. EW has received institutional funding for research from the NIH, DoD, Race to Erase MS and NMSS, has received payment for lectures with NeurologyLive and Advanced Curriculum and has served on the advisory board for BMS and Roche. LK has received institutional funding for research from Biogen, Novartis, NIH, NMSS, consulting fees from F Hoffman/LaRoche, Biogen, WebMD/Medscape, Ebix, Gerson Lehrman, honouraria payment from BMS, expert testimony payment from MCIC Vermont, Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP (KBR, LLP) and Sedgwick CMS, Inc, meeting attendance support from BMS/Celgene, has served on the advisory board for Biogen, Novartis and Genentech, has had leadership roles with the International Paediatric MS Study Group, US Network of Paediatric MS Centres, iWiMS and IMSCOGS. JHY has received grant funding from the NIH, consulting fees from Kyowa Kirin, payment for speaking fees from UCB, personal honouraria from the American College of Rheumatology and support for meeting attendance from the NIH. TS has received support for meeting attendance from Hoffman La Roche and participates on the advisory board for Biogen. JR has received grant funding from NMSS, Biogen, PCORI/NIH, Guthy Jackson Charitable Foundation and The VA. TC is supported by grant funding from NIH, NMSS, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, DoD, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Tiziana Therapeutics, Wesley Clover International and Genentech, Inc. Celgene Corp, Sumaira Foundation, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, EMD Serono, I-Mab Biopharma, Mallinckrodt ARD, Octave Bioscience, Sanofi and Genzyme; she has received consulting fees (payment made to the institution) from Genentech, Inc., Janssen Research & Development, LLC., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., Banner Life Sciences, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Octave Bioscience, Sandoz, Siemens, TG Therapeutics, UCB and Vida Ventures; payment or honouraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events was received from Genentech, Inc., MJH Life Sciences, Prime Education, LLC, and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; she participates on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech, Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Octave Bioscience, Inc., Roche, Sanofi US Services, Inc. JSG has received grant funding from Octave Biosciences and Sanofi.