Predicting response to disease modifying treatments in MS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Predicting response to disease modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis
IRAS ID
164307
Contact name
Paul Matthews
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Complicance Office, Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is believed to be a primary neuroinflammatory disorder associated most commonly with clinical presentations of recurrent acute, multifocal inflammation in the brain and spinal cord associated with neurological deficits (a “relapse”) from which there is complete or partial recovery.
Considerable advances in MS treatment have been made over the last 2 decades. There are now 10 medicines approved for use in most developed countries. However, these medicines have 2 drawbacks: 1) they are partially effective; and 2) they have a number of complications that can be very significant. Hence, there is a need to develop robust reliable methods to detect treatment response.
In recent years a number of risk ‘susceptibility genes’ have emerged in the field of MS. These susceptibility genes are thought to contribute modestly to disease risk heritability governed by complex gene-environment interactions. One way of studying these genes is by looking at their expression in cells, often termed a 'transcriptome profile'.
The aim of this observational study is to follow a cohort of MS patients over 18 months starting on disease modifying therapies. We aim to see whether changes in transcriptome profiles over a period of 18 months can help to predict a patient's response to treatment. This will be assessed clinically and by brain MRI. By comparing patients that respond to treatment with those that do not we also aim to learn more about the mechanism of action of the treatments themselves.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1896
Date of REC Opinion
19 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion