Impact of Aging
These studies look at the impact of age on MS progression and treatment response. Our goal is to help providers and patients chose the best therapy for them.
Biomarkers
A biomarker is a biological molecule found in blood, body fluids or tissues. It can be a sign of normal or abnormal process, or a condition or disease. These studies look at biomarkers to help us better:
- Diagnose MS
- Understand how MS may progress
- Identify which treatment options work best for each patient.
Shared Decision Making
These studies look at the impact of shared decision making (SDM) on patients. The goal is to look for ways to improve SDM.
PROs
These studies look at how PROs can be used to improve diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with MS.
Immune Involvement
The immune system is your body's defense against infection. In MS, the immune system attacks the myelin coating around nerves. These studies try to understand what causes the immune system to do this. They also try to gain a better understanding of the relationship between inflammation and the loss of nerve cells.
Antigenome Signatures
Category:
Biomarkers
A biomarker can be found in body fluids, like blood or in other body tissues and it is something that can be measured. The goal of this study is to look for biomarkers in the blood of MS patients that will identify which patients will not have new disease activity. The study also tries to identify which patients will respond to the treatment they are taking.
Where is the study being performed: Duke University with Dr. Tedder, and University of Colorado with Dr. Bennett
Status: Complete
This study was presented at ECTRIMS 2023. Ask your healthcare provider for study results which s/he can find at MS-LINK.net.
Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) x 4
Categories:
Biomarkers, Immune Involvement
1. Examining Patterns and Correlates of Wellness in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis Who Use Wheelchairs
This study focuses on people with MS who use wheelchairs. Study participants will be from across the United States and they will be asked to complete a survey. The goal of this study is to learn about their diet, exercise, and stress management and compare their behaviors to behaviors that are considered healthy.
Where is the study being performed: University of North Texas with Dr Silveira
Status: Complete
2. Immunological and MRI Correlates of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in MS
MBSR is a form of meditation therapy. During MBSR an instructor guides each patient through exercises to help them lower stress levels. This study looks at how these mental exercises may help people with MS.
Where is the study being performed: University of Massachusetts with Dr Hemond
Status: Ongoing
3. MRI in Pediatric MOG Syndrome
Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) is a protein found in the protective coating around the nerve cells. In MOG Syndrome the immune system attacks this protein and causes symptoms similar to multiple sclerosis (MS). This study uses new MRI techniques to see if there are differences between MS and MOG Syndrome in young people.
Where is the study being performed: University of California, San Francisco, with Dr Waubant
Status: Complete
4. Understanding Psychiatric Comorbidity in Multiple Sclerosis Using Genomics
Many mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, can come from the genes that you inherited from your mom and dad. This study will look at the genes of MS patients to see if there is a risk for developing a mental health condition and MS.
Where is the study being performed: University of Manitoba with Dr Kowalec
Status: Complete
Discontinuation of Disease-modifying Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis (DISCOMS) Extension
Categories:
Biomarkers, Impact of Aging, Patient Reported Outcomes
This study looks at people with MS who are 55 years of age or older who have had no symptoms of MS for more than 5 years while on a disease-modifying therapy. Half of these patients will stop treatment, while the other half will continue with their treatment. This study may help us figure out what the risks of stopping treatment might be.
Where is the study being performed: University of Alabama with Dr Cutter, and University of Colorado with Dr Corboy
Status: Complete
This study was presented at ECTRIMS 2021, ECTRIMS 2022, and ECTRIMS 2023. Ask your healthcare provider for study results which s/he can find at MS-LINK.net.
Immunome Pilot
Categories:
Biomarkers, Immune Involvement, Impact of Aging
The immune system is your body's defense against infection. However, in MS, the immune system also attacks the protective coating around your nerves. This study looks at immune cells in people with MS to see how they change with age. The goal is to understand if there are immune system patterns in people with MS. It will also compare these patterns to those seen in healthy individuals. This comparison can help improve our understanding of the disease. It might also help patients and providers find the right treatment.
Where is the study being performed: University of Pennsylvania with Dr Bar-Or
Status: Complete
This study was presented at ECTRIMS 2020 and published. Ask your healthcare provider for study results which s/he can find at MS-LINK.net.
Myelin Repair Foundation (MRF) Pilots x 3
Category:
Biomarkers
This pilot program will investigate if there are specific biomarkers that can measure how severe the disease course for an MS patient might be and how well the brain of an MS patient might be able to repair itself.
1. MRF Pilot Grant 1
This pilot study will try to identify and measure specific biomarkers that could be responsible for disease progression in people with MS.
Where is the study being performed: Johns Hopkins University with Dr Bhargava
Status: Complete
2. MRF Pilot Grant 2
This pilot study is designed to locate the brain cells that are responsible for more disease activity in people with MS.
Where is the study being performed: Weill Cornell Medicine with Dr Linden
Status: Complete
3. MRF Pilot Grant 3
Aerobic exercise is exercise fueled by the oxygen that you breathe. The word “aerobic” means “with oxygen.” This type of exercise helps to strengthen both the heart and lungs. This study looks at whether 24 weeks of aerobic exercise also helps to promote healing in the brains of people with MS.
Where is the study being performed: Oregon Health & Science University with Drs Rooney and Wooliscroft
Status: Ongoing
MS Brain Bank Harmonization
Categories:
Biomarkers, Immune Involvement, Impact of Aging
The purpose of this study is to explore how brain activity is affected in MS. To do this brain tissue samples have been gathered. The hope is to use these samples to speed up new MS discoveries.
Where is the study being performed: Columbia University with Dr De Jager
Status: Ongoing
This study was presented at ECTRIMS 2021 and ECTRIMS 2022. Ask your healthcare provider for study results which s/he can find at MS-LINK.net.
MS-SUPPORT Randomized Controlled Study
Category:
Shared Decision Making
This study will help to determine if there are benefits to using a shared decision-making tool (called MS‑SUPPORT). In this study half of the adult patients enrolled will use the MS‑SUPPORT tool and the other half will not. The goal of the study is to see if patients that use MS-SUPPORT have better:
- Disease Modifying Therapy (DMT) use
- How well patients stick with DMT
- Patient/doctor communications
- Quality of decision making
- Quality of care
- Quality of life
- Decision conflicts
- How patients feel about their illness
Where is the study being performed: Shared Decision Making Resources and University of New England with Dr Col
Status: Complete
This study was presented at CMSC 2021, CMSC 2022, and published. Ask your healthcare provider for study results which s/he can find at MS-LINK.net.
Next Gen MS
Category:
Patient Reported Outcomes
This study will use patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from the MS-LINK Outcomes study. The goal is to see if the use of this type of information could lead to improved strategies for adults living with MS.
Where is the study being performed: Dartmouth with Dr Oliver
Status: Ongoing
This study was presented at CMSC 2023 and ECTRIMS 2023. Ask your healthcare provider for study results which s/he can find at MS-LINK.net.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) Pilots x 3
Categories:
Immune Involvement, Impact of Aging
The Aging in MS NMSS pilot program aims to advance our understanding of how MS progresses as we get older. It also hopes to identify new ideas for slowing down or even stopping disability in people with MS.
1. NMSS Pilot Grant 1
Cellular Senescence in Autoimmune Demyelination
At a certain time in a cell's life it stops dividing. This is called senescence. This study will look at an MS-like disease in mice or rats to determine how senescence could affect MS.
Where is the study being performed: University of California, San Francisco, with Dr Oksenberg
Status: Complete
2. NMSS Pilot Grant 2
Determining the Effect of Circadian Rhythms in Oligodendrocyte Lineage Cell Dynamics With Age in Multiple Sclerosis
Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that our bodies go through in a 24-hour cycle. These rhythms respond mainly to light and dark and affect most living things. This study wants to explore the circadian rhythms in mice and the effects on cells that protect nerve fibers.
Where is the study being performed: Stanford University with Dr Gibson
Status: Complete
3. NMSS Pilot Grant 3
Association of Senescent Cells With MS Progression
This study will look at the relationship between MS and aging. It will compare the age of the person with MS with how active their disease is.
Where is the study being performed: University of California, San Diego, with Dr Graves
Status: Complete
Outcomes Study
Categories:
Impact of Aging, Patient Reported Outcomes, Shared Decision Making
This study will collect data from the patient and the health care team over a 3 year period. Patients will complete PROs, add events of interest, medications/vaccines, and have the option to complete a diary. At the same time the health care team will provide information on the patient's labs, MRIs, and tests performed at the clinic visit. All this data will be combined and displayed on a dashboard that the patient and provider can review at the patient's visit. The purpose of this study is to:
- Improve patient and provider discussions
- Increase shared decision making
- Explore new research topics
The study also aims to understand how patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can be used in the clinic to deliver better patient care.
Where is the study being performed: This study is being performed at the following centers: Georgetown University Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Alabama Neurology Associates/Tanner Center for MS, Atlanta Neurologic Institute, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, the Dell Medical School/The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Nebraska Medical Cener, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and Memorial Healthcare Institute for Neuroscience. Additional centers are planned. Dr Tornatore and Dr English are lead physicians
Status: Ongoing
This study was presented at AAN 2023 and ECTRIMS 2023. Ask your healthcare provider for study results which s/he can find at MS-LINK.net.
Truven Aging in MS Analysis
Category:
Impact of Aging
This study looks at the medical records of people 50 years or older with and without MS over a 6 year period. The study compares differences in health (such as rate of infections, cancer, cane, walker, or wheelchair use) between people who have MS and people who don't.
Where is the study being performed: The data for this study was from a large national patient database. Léorah Freeman MD, PhD and Ashlea Lucas, PA-C of University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Austin, are lead authors
Status: Complete
This study was presented at ACTRIMS 2020, ACTRIMS 2022, and published. Ask your healthcare provider for study results which s/he can find at MS-LINK.net.
Truven Treatment in MS Analysis
Category:
Shared Decision Making
This study looks at MS patients’ medical records over a 6 year period. The goal of this study is to understand if taking a disease modifying therapy as instructed by their provider had an impact on their MS and on the doctor visits, ER visits, and number of MRI scans the patient experienced during those 6 years.
Where is the study being performed: The data for this study was from a large national patient database. Dr Amezcua of the University of Southern California and Dr Williams of Joi Wellness are lead authors
Status: Complete
This study was presented at CMSC 2020 and published. Ask your healthcare provider for study results which s/he can find at MS-LINK.net.