Yes, what happened you might ask, and all I can say is: A great deal. The UK National Institute of Health Research’s EME board has elevated #ChariotMS from the brawling crowd (stage 1) to the boxing ring (stage 2), and the reason they gave was this: “The Board note that this is an important research question.” No further patting on the back though, since the whole team is...
World MS Day 2018
It’s World MS Day today! This annual awareness day has been pioneered by the MS International Foundation (MSIF) and takes place each year at the end of May. Check here for events across the Globe. This years’s World MS Day campaign headline is #bringinguscloser, which the organisers translate as follows: “Research is bringing us closer to ending MS. To...
ACTRIMS 2018: Rituximab does not affect MRI detected meningeal lesions
Intrathecal rituximab is worth exploring as a treatment option? Can it eliminate the B-cells driving progressive disease? Phase 1 Trial of Intrathecal Rituximab in Progressive MS Patients with Evidence of Leptomeningeal Contrast Enhancement Background: Leptomeningeal inflammation is associated with increased cortical demyelination, neuronal damage and worse clinical outcomes, suggesting it may...
Here comes #ChariotMS. Or does it?
Is the #ChariotMS study worth funding? Is upper limb function worth saving in people with more advanced MS? The objectives of our #ThinkHand awareness event, which we are hosting this Thursday night, is to celebrate hand function in people with MS and to promote #ChariotMS to the wider community. It’s all about you. Do you believe #ChariotMS is worthwhile supporting? Should some of the...
#ChariotMS – Time for action
The latest news from our #ChariotMS Project Chariot ms 4_ms-society_feb2018_4_slsh from Klaus Schmierer For some time we have been talking about this trial which builds on a number of recent insights we feel quite strongly about. They are not only our own insights, of course; others have thought and worked hard too, and this becomes no less evident than by reading the list of collaborators, and...
Another eagle? No – a Maven has landed !
It’s official now, oral cladribine (Mavenclad) has just been given the nod by the EU Commission. Whatever the somewhat clumsy detail of the license, and wherever the ensueing discussions with funders will lead on the ground, this is excellent news. Big congratulations to Merck KgA for resurrecting their cladribine programme after BartsMS had started their own given the excellent data...
Quality of life is better on effective DMT
Positive impact of cladribine on quality of life in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis. Dayo Afolabi, Christo Albor, Lukasz Zalewski, Dan R Altmann, David Baker and Klaus Schmierer. Mult Scler J, August 17, 2017 Abstract Background: A number of elements of the pivotal ‘cladribine tablets treating multiple sclerosis orally’ (CLARITY) trial have remained unpublished. Objective: To report...
#GuestPost: More on the safety of MRI contrast agents
A recent post on the safety of Gadolinium based contrast agents used in MRI caused some concern, so I thought we should follow up with yet more expertise and analysis. I therefore asked Dr Tom Campion to summarise his thoughts on a recent guidance statement by the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) on this important topic. Tom Campion is a senior radiology registrar...
World MS Day – one week on
The headline of the World MS Day event I attended last week in Lisbon was “Time matters in MS – It is time to make a real difference to the lives of people with MS and their families.” Here is the program: Time matters-brochure-digital from Klaus Schmierer My panel was called “Brain Health Matters in MS”, and chaired by Alastair Compston. Perhaps some of you...
World MS Day
Since 2009 the last Wednesday in May marks World MS Day, raising awareness and facilitating support among MS organisations around the Globe. The Day is coordinated by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF). This year’s theme is #Life with MS. A number of events across the Globe mark the day. I will be in Belém near Lisbon at an event organised by the British...