As the Tampa Bay region continues to grow, so does the need for specialized healthcare. To help meet that demand, the MS & Neuromuscular Center of Excellence (MSN) will open a new comprehensive multiple sclerosis center in Lutz on August 20, expanding access to expert neurological care for patients across Central Florida.
The new location will bring specialized physicians, advanced infusion therapies and clinical research opportunities together under one roof, creating a centralized destination for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Rather than navigating care across multiple providers, patients will have access to a team dedicated to managing the disease from diagnosis through long-term treatment.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, disrupting communication between the brain and body. Symptoms, including fatigue, muscle weakness, numbness, vision changes, balance issues and cognitive impairment, can vary widely and often change over time. Nearly one million Americans are living with MS, making it one of the most common neurological diseases affecting young adults.
Leading the Lutz facility is Dr. Mark Cascione, one of the Tampa Bay area’s most recognized multiple sclerosis specialists. He has spent nearly three decades caring for patients across the region after joining Tampa Neurology Associates in 1996 and later establishing the South Tampa MS Center in 2026.
Throughout his career, Dr. Cascione has participated in more than 300 clinical trials as a principal investigator or sub-investigator, giving patients access to emerging therapies while helping advance multiple sclerosis research worldwide. He has also become a respected national thought leader, leading physician education programs and faculty conferences across the United States and internationally focused on improving MS care.
For people living with chronic neurological diseases, access to physicians with deep expertise in MS can improve continuity of care while reducing the need to travel between multiple providers. Although there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, advances in treatment over the past two decades have dramatically changed the outlook for patients. Today’s disease-modifying therapies can slow progression, reduce relapses, and help people maintain their independence longer, making timely access to specialized care more important than ever.
The center is designed to support every stage of the patient journey. In addition to comprehensive neurological evaluations and ongoing disease management, the Lutz facility will provide access to advanced infusion therapies and clinical research studying emerging treatments. Because MS affects every individual differently, physicians will develop personalized treatment plans based on each patient’s symptoms, disease progression, and lifestyle.
“For someone living with MS, every delay, referral, or disconnected appointment adds another layer of stress to an already difficult diagnosis,” says Dr. Cascione. Our goal with this new center is to remove as much of that burden as possible by bringing specialized care together in one place. When patients can spend less time navigating the healthcare system and more time focusing on their health, everyone benefits.”
Managing MS extends well beyond prescribing medication and often includes monitoring disease activity, adjusting therapies over time, coordinating rehabilitation, and helping patients navigate the physical and emotional challenges that accompany a lifelong condition. This new center reflects a broader shift in neurology toward multidisciplinary, patient-centered care for chronic neurological diseases.
“We’re seeing tremendous progress in how we treat multiple sclerosis, but those advances only matter if patients can access them,” said Dr. Mike Edgeworth, Chief Medical Officer of Nira Medical. “By expanding into North Tampa, we’re bringing the latest therapies and specialized neurological expertise closer to the communities we serve.”
The MS & Neuromuscular Center of Excellence has long served patients from its Clearwater location, specializing in multiple sclerosis and neuromuscular conditions. The new center in Lutz will officially welcome patients beginning August 20. It will commemorate the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a community patient education event later this year. Residents interested in attending the opening can register in advance.
