The goal of this study is to identify autoantigen signatures to understand and predict multiple sclerosis pathogenesis and also patient responses to interferon beta-1a therapy

Partner: Tedder, Duke University; Bennett, University of Colorado

Status: Complete

This study aims to examine the T cells, B cells, and innate immune cells of people with MS to describe age-related changes and compare them against people without MS

Partner: Bar-Or, Univ. of Pennsylvania

Status: Complete

This study aims to provide data on the durability of disease inactivity, and potential risks, after discontinuing DMT(s) in MS

Partner: Cutter, University of Alabama; Corboy, University of Colorado

Status: Complete

This pilot program will develop assays to isolate and define extracellular vesicles (EVs) as biomarkers for specific CNS cell populations and assess EVs as markers for CNS remyelination and repair

MRF Pilot Grant 1: This study aims to identify biomarkers related to neurodegeneration in MS by measuring levels of multiple synaptic proteins in plasma-derived neuronally-enriched exosomes

Partner: Bhargava, Johns Hopkins University

Status: Complete

MRF Pilot Grant 2: This study aims to determine if extracellular vesicles (EVs) may serve as biomarkers for chronic active, Rim+ lesions that are associated with more aggressive disease progression and poorer clinical outcomes in patients with MS

Partner: Linden, Weill Cornell Medicine

Status: Complete

MRF Pilot Grant 3: This study aims to explore whether 24 weeks of aerobic exercise promotes remyelination in the white matter or chronic MS lesions of patients with MS, and to explore the relationships between demyelination in the brain and EV profiles in MS

Partner: Rooney, Wooliscroft, OHSU

Status: Ongoing

This study aims to explore mechanisms related to the general brain atrophy seen in MS by assembling a collection of frozen neocortical samples from 6 brain banks into a single dataset with harmonized phenotypic information and a coherent set of proteomic data

Partner: De Jager, Columbia University

Status: Ongoing

The CMSC pilot research projects aim to support unique, novel ideas with the potential to help improve MS patient outcomes and quality of health.

1. Examining Patterns and Correlates of Wellness in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis Who Use Wheelchairs: This epidemiological study aims to examine the distribution and prevalence of health care behaviors, and their association with wellness outcomes, in a sample of wheelchair users with MS across the US

Partner: Silveira, University of North Texas

Status: Complete

2. Immunological and MRI Correlates of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in MS: This study aims to examine the psychological, biological, and neuroarchitectural changes associated with Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in people with MS

Partner: Hemond, University of Massachusetts

Status: Ongoing

3. MRI in Pediatric MOG Syndrome: This study aims to use new MRI techniques to differentiate between MS and MOG-associated disease in pediatric patients

Partner: Waubant, University of California, San Francisco

Status: Complete

4. Understanding Psychiatric Comorbidity in Multiple Sclerosis Using Genomics

Partner: Kowalec, University of Manitoba

Status: Complete