Predicting the individual’s potential for functional recovery in MS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Predicting the individual’s potential for functional recovery in Multiple Sclerosis: a novel clinical and neuroimaging strategy
IRAS ID
165980
Contact name
Valentina Tomassini
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Development of recovery-oriented interventions is a major goal in the management of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Functional recovery is dependent on the brain's ability to adapt to challenges and injuries, also called plasticity. Success in rehabilitation therapies varies immensely between MS patients, and we hypothesize that this variation can be explained by variability in the brains' potential for plasticity. Recent advances in neuroimaging suggest that combining measures of brain damage and functional reorganization could allow us to identify this individual potential for functional recovery objectively and reliably. Combining neuroimaging with measures of initial disability in 150 patients with MS, we propose to develop a predictive model of motor performance improvements with a 4-week home training programme. This model could be used for early identification of responders to therapeutic strategies promoting repair and recovery. It would also accelerate trials of new interventions by optimising designs and stratifying patients for such interventions in the clinic.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0105
Date of REC Opinion
8 May 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion