Clinical Trials and Research
Shaping the Future of MS Treatment
Research teams in the Penn MS program lead clinical
and laboratory-based research programs that are
recognized at both regional and international levels
for their contributions to the advancement of MS
treatment. Research projects are sponsored by the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National
MS Society, and industry, and include the following
areas of focus:
- International treatment trials to determine the
efficacy of current and novel therapies for patients at
all phases of MS, including first demyelinating events,
relapsing-remitting, secondary-progressive, and
primary progressive MS.
- In collaboration with Penn Neuroradiology,
investigations are ongoing to evaluate multimodal
MRI, diffusion-tensor imaging, and other modalities
as measures of MS disease location and activity within
the brain and spinal cord.
- Collaborative efforts between neuro-ophthalmologists
and MS clinicians to validate and implement new
visual outcome measures. These studies provide key
findings that will establish the visual pathways as a
model for studying neuroprotective therapies.
ß World-class laboratory-based research programs in
neurovirology and immunology are providing insight
into our understanding of potential causes for MS on
a cellular level, building a foundation for future drug
development.
- In collaboration with the Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia, clinical outcome measures for vision
and neurologic function are being evaluated at
Penn to establish their role and use in the pediatric
population to facilitate development of clinical trials in
pediatric MS.
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