Multiple Sclerosis research project updates

The MS and Health Measurement Group are delighted to have been invited to present their work at ECTRIMS 2024 in Copenhagen. Lead of our group, Professor Jeremy Hobart will be presenting two posters highlighting novel approaches to analysing data produced in global MS clinical studies. The approaches improve insights from data generated in clinical research with the potential to ensure that the impact of treatments, and other interventions, are more accurately captured. In the past the limitations of analysis has prevented the advancement of new treatments that could benefit people with MS, something the group is seeking to avoid.

Copies of the posters are provided below. If you are interested in the potential of these approaches, or working with our group to deliver these shared ambitions please do get in touch with our Group Manager, 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 MS research team has previously presented research posters at the ECTRIMS 2023 International Conference, Milan and the MS Trust 2024 UK Conference.

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