Multiple Sclerosis research project updates

Professor Jeremy Hobart was delighted to be invited to speak at the 32^nd Annual Meeting of the European Charcot Foundation on 21–23 November in Baveno, Italy. In addition to his talk, Jeremy presented four posters. Three of these highlight opportunities to increase the value of clinical research identified by novel approaches to analysing data produced in global MS studies. The other poster describes the background and rationale of a study aimed at setting the foundations of an evidenced-based Smouldering Associated Worsening (SAW) in MS assessment and measurement framework.

Copies of the posters are provided below. If you are interested in the potential of these approaches, or in working with our group to deliver these shared ambitions, please get in touch with our group manager, Michael Paisey, at michael.paisey@plymouth.ac.uk

Working in collaboration with the South West Peninsula Clinical Research we have launched a website that gives information about MS research in Devon and Cornwall. As well as giving information about studies currently taking place and sharing results of studies that have been completed the website, and team behind it, has co-ordinated and promoted research webinars for the MS community. Three webinars have taken place in 2024 with over 300 people registering to take part. Links to recordings of each webinar are also provided for people who were unable to attend on the day.

A link to the website is provided below, should you want to find out more about MS research studies taking place or watch recordings of the webinars. You can also register for updates so you find out when new studies are launched or future webinars planned.

The SWIMS project (South West Impact of Multiple Sclerosis) is a longitudinal study that has followed people with MS since 2004 and has included over 1800 people. The SWIMS community is a fabulously engaged research cohort that have worked with us to help develop different PRO measures and investigate other impacts and opportunities in MS care. If you are interest in being part of SWIMS or collaborating in a project working with the SWIMS data or research community please visit our webpage below.

SWIMS: collaborating and data sharing

Information on licensing Patient Reported Outcomes created by Professor Hobart and colleagues (such as the MSIS-29, MSWS-12 and MSSS-88) is available on our Community Interest Company, Transform MS's website. Transform MS now manages these PROs and commercial projects for the group. As a Community Interest Company that has a social purpose of ‘maximising the value of clinical research to minimise the impact of disease', it re-invests income generated from its activities to support improved outcomes for people with MS.

Our Research Team has previously presented research posters at the ECTRIMS 2024 International Conference, Copenhagen, the MS Trust 2024 UK conference and ECTRIMS 2023 International Conference, Milan.

The posters can be viewed below. Please contact tanya.king@plymouth.ac.uk for more information.