Current MS Research

This page provides an overview of current MS focused research taking place in the South West, in particular those studies that are recruiting.

It is in all of our interests to try and support recruitment to MS studies even if we are not directly involved as that will increase the chances of more projects being awarded to the region. This has potential to improve the outcomes of people with MS through access to new treatments or improvements in clinical services.

Ways you could help include:

Getting involved yourself - if you are a person with MS who meets the criteria listed then get in touch with the study team
If you work with people with MS, making them aware of the study opportunities that are available and relevant to them
Making sure any studies you are aware of are being promoted. Get in touch with our team if you know of an MS study taking place in the region that we could help promote.

Visit the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Be Part of Research website for more information on MS studies across the UK: https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/

Details of the open studies and how to get involved/contact the teams are provided below:

Recruiting now

Practical Cooling to Manage Exercise-Induced Heat Sensitivity in Multiple Sclerosis: A Feasibility Study

Researchers at the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Marjon University are investigating the effect of some simple cooling strategies on MS symptoms when people get hot during exercise. The cooling strategies are an iced drink and a cooled neck collar.

Key Inclusion Criteria :

Aged 18 to 64
Clinical diagnosis of MS
EDSS 0-6
Heat Sensitive (MS symptoms get worse when you get hot)

Locations: Plymouth

If you are interested in this, or any other study, or have any questions you would like to ask about it, please contact our team who will be able to connect you with the relevant team:

rduh.swpmsresearch@nhs.net

SWIMS - The South West Impact of Multiple Sclerosis Project - a patient-orientated longitudinal study of the impact of multiple sclerosis in South West England

The The South West Impact of Multiple Sclerosis (SWIMS) project is a longitudinal study that has recruited around 1,800 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) in Devon and Cornwall, providing new information about how MS changes over time. It started in 2004 and has developed as a research engaged community of people with MS in the region..

Key Inclusion Criteria :

Aged 18 years or over
Resident in Devon or Cornwall
Clinical diagnosis of MS.

Locations: Plymouth, Torbay, Truro, Exeter, Barnstaple

If you are interested in this, or any other study, or have any questions you would like to ask about it, please contact our team who will be able to connect you with the relevant team:

rduh.swpmsresearch@nhs.net

Tonic 2 Phase 4 - Trajectories of Outcome in Neurological Conditions: Quality of Life (QoL) and neurological disease

TONiC is a national study examining the factors that influence quality of life in patients with neurological conditions. It is one of the largest studies on quality of life in neurological conditions ever performed in the UK. There is a specific strand focused on people with MS. Phase 4 of the project is a longitudinal study - which aims to collect information on changes to Quality of Life over an initial 5 year period.

Key Inclusion Criteria :

Any person with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis who is being treated at a site where the study is taking place.

Location: Plymouth, Exeter, Barnstaple, Truro

If you are interested in this, or any other study, or have any questions you would like to ask about it, please contact our team who will be able to connect you with the relevant team:

rduh.swpmsresearch@nhs.net

The UK Multiple Sclerosis Register

The UK MS Register was launched in 2011 and is funded by the MS Society. The fundamental concept is to capture more real world data about living with MS in the United Kingdom.

Key Inclusion Criteria :

MS diagnosis
Aged 18+
UK resident

Location: Plymouth, Exeter, Barnstaple, Torbay, Truro, Taunton

If you are interested in this study, or have any questions you would like to ask about it, please contact the study team:

rduh.swpmsresearch@nhs.net

Active (Recruitment Closed)

Chariot Ms - A STUDY To establish whether there is superiority of Cladribine tablets over placebo in protecting against deterioration in people with Advanced MS

ChariotMS will test whether a drug called cladribine can slow down the worsening of hand and arm function for people with more advanced progressive MS.

Key Inclusion Criteria :

Age 18+ No upper age limits
RRMS/SPMS/PPMS
EDSS 6.5-8.5 (inclusive)
Investigator judgement of upper limb deterioration in past 2 years
Completion of 9 Hole Peg Test ≤ 180sec

Location: Torbay

If you are interested in this, or any other study, or have any questions you would like to ask about it, please contact our team who will be able to connect you with the relevant team:

rduh.swpmsresearch@nhs.net

star ms - Stem Cell Transplantation versus Alemtuzumab or Ocrelizumab or Cladribine in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple sclerosis

This study will compare the safety and efficacy of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation versus Alemtuzumab, Ocrelizumab, Ofatumumab or Cladribine in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Key Inclusion Criteria :

Aged 16-55 (inclusive)
RRMS (Highly active)
EDSS 0-6.0 (inclusive). If 6.0, must be due to relapse not progressive disease)
Severe inflammatory disease defined as RRMS course with 1 or more protocol defined relapses, or evidence of MRI disease activity in last 12 months (at time of screening) despite being on a DMT, or rapidly evolving severe MS in treatment-naïve patients
Clinical stability for >30 days following last relapse at the time of screening.
Able to undergo MRI examination

If you are interested in this, or any other study, or have any questions you would like to ask about it, please contact our team who will be able to connect you with the relevant team:

rduh.swpmsresearch@nhs.net

Gavotte - A treatment study for patients with primary progressive MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

A clinical trial to look at the safety and effectiveness of a higher dose of ocrelizumab to treat patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Key Inclusion Criteria :

Aged 18-55
EDSS 3.0-6.5
OCB positive
Disease duration of less than 15 years if EDSS >5.0, less than 10 years if EDSS ≤5.0

If you are interested in this, or any other study, or have any questions you would like to ask about it, please contact our team who will be able to connect you with the relevant team:

rduh.swpmsresearch@nhs.net

ORatorio-Hand - A STUDY To Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Ocrelizumab in Adults with Primary Progressive MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab in participants with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), including participants later in their disease course. This study focuses on the impact on upper limit disability progression.

Key Inclusion Criteria :

Age 18-65
PPMS
EDSS >3.0-8.0 (inclusive)
Not on other interventional clinical trials
Ability to complete 9-Hole Peg Test within 240 seconds with each hand
Less than 20 years since MS diagnosis in patients with an EDSS score at screening 7.0-8.0
Less than 15 years since MS diagnosis in patients with an EDSS score at screening 5.5-6.5
Less than 10 years since MS diagnosis in patients with an EDSS score at screening <5.0

If you are interested in this, or any other study, or have any questions you would like to ask about it, please contact our team who will be able to connect you with the relevant team:

rduh.swpmsresearch@nhs.net

Optimise:MS - A prospective, real world pharmacovigilance study in Multiple Sclerosis

This is a 7 year study tracking the occurrence of adverse events caused by all MS related medications.

It is an observational study that requires no effort from participants once consented. Your MS Team will review your medical records to track your medical history and your MS journey.

Data from this study will facilitate a way of exploring related questions regarding the relative benefits vs risks of treatment and the influence of prior treatments on adverse events.

Key inclusion criteria:

Patients with a diagnosis of MS who are on treatment or are due to start treatment or potentially eligible to start but not receiving a DMT.
There is no age restriction to take part.

If you are interested in this, or any other study, or have any questions you would like to ask about it, please contact our team who will be able to connect you with the relevant team:

rduh.swpmsresearch@nhs.net

Deliver MS - Determining effectiveness of intensive vs. escalation treatment approach in RRMS

The DELIVER-MS study seeks to answer the important question: does early treatment with highly effective DMT improve the prognosis for people with MS? This is an area of significant controversy, and no data currently exist to guide treatment choices for patients and clinicians. The study results will help guide overall treatment philosophy and will be applicable not only to a wide range of existing therapies, but also to new therapies. This will meet a significant unmet need in patient decision making and aid the decision for medication approval by third parties.

Key inclusion criteria:

Aged 18-60
Established diagnosis of RRMS
EDSS < 6.5
Active disease (evidenced by scan activity or clinical relapse)
Ambulatory with disease onset in the last 5 year
Treatment-naïve

If you are interested in this, or any other study, or have any questions you would like to ask about it, please contact our team who will be able to connect you with the relevant team:

rduh.swpmsresearch@nhs.net

Coming soon

Keeping your cool with Multiple Sclerosis.

Many people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) find their symptoms worsen with heat. Therefore, researchers at the University of Plymouth have designed a study to investigate affordable and easy-to-use cooling techniques that could help people with MS, who experience heat sensitivity. They hope to also look at how these cooling techniques might work.

The researchers hope to commence the study in Autumn 2023, which will include two visits to the Plymouth Science Park, each lasting approximately 1.5 hours.

Key Inclusion Criteria :

Confirmed diagnosis of MS
Aged >18 years
Self-report as being heat sensitive
Able to get on and off an imaging scanner table with the assistance of one person

If you are interested in this, or any other study, or have any questions you would like to ask about it, please contact our team who will be able to connect you with the relevant team:

rduh.swpmsresearch@nhs.net

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