EBV-Mems
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Epstein-Barr Virus and Memory B-cells study in patients with multiple sclerosis (EBV-Mems)
IRAS ID
313742
Contact name
Gavin Giovannoni
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University of London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
69709064, ISRCTN
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in an autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system. Epidemiological data supports Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) as being necessary, but not sufficient, for someone to develop MS. The memory B-cell population is a subset of immune cells that has been suggested to be the pathogenic cell population driving MS. The memory B cell population, which contains the subset of cells that are latently infected with EBV, is critical in the pathogenesis of MS and likely to be the main therapeutic target of licensed MS disease-modifying therapies.
We propose testing this hypothesis, using a range of technologies, to see if people with MS (pwMS), compared to normal controls, have evidence of ongoing EBV replication and whether or not MS disease-modifying therapies impact EBV replication.REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
22/WS/0150
Date of REC Opinion
21 Nov 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion