Clinical Research Directory

Autoimmune Intervention Mastery Course Study

The goal of this project is to critically evaluate the effectiveness of using an online program to improve diet and self-care in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), fibromyalgia, post acute sequela of covid, and cancer in remission with persisting fatigue.

Pathogenicity of B and CD4 T Cell Subsets in Multiple Sclerosis

The study aims at identifying the type of B and CD4 T cell subsets with pathogenic properties in the different clinical forms of multiple sclerosis. This research might open new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of multiple sclerosis particularly progressive MS.

Impact of Ocrelizumab on Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers at Multiple Sclerosis Onset

Newly diagnosed relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) and high risk clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients will be treated with ocrelizumab at disease onset to see if treatment favorably alters CSF markers of chronic inflammation.

Clinnova-MS: A Prospective Cohort Study of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Trans-regional Digital Health Effort Unlocking the Potential of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Health Care

The Clinnova-Multiple Sclerosis (MS) study is part of the Clinnova program (NCT06526364; NCT06235684 and NCT05733702), which seeks to advance precision medicine and the digitalization of healthcare through high-quality, interoperable health data. This program focuses on people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and aims to identify objective surrogate markers derived from clinical, epidemiological, imaging, and omics data that can predict disease activity, such as progression or relapses. By combining data science and artificial intelligence, the project seeks to improve patient stratification, support personalized therapeutic decisions, and provide insights into the mechanisms underlying treatment response and disease progression. Although many therapies are available for MS, it remains challenging to determine the most appropriate strategy for each patient and to prevent long-term disability. Current treatments mainly target relapses and inflammation, with limited effects on chronic progression. Clinnova-MS will collect and analyze real-world and research data to better understand variability in disease activity and treatment outcomes, enabling more precise, evidence-based care within the standard of care. This study represents the first step toward the broader Clinnova objective: developing sustainable, personalized, and preventive healthcare for people living with MS.

Clinically Isolated Syndrome and Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

A key question in efforts to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is whether a therapeutic lifestyle (diet, stress reduction and exercise) is inferior to disease-modifying drug treatments in terms of reducing multiple sclerosis related symptoms, improving function and quality of life. This study will prospectively assess the changes in quality of life and clinical outcomes in two cohorts of patients who are recently diagnosed with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to begin answering that question. The goal of this project is to compare a diet and therapeutic lifestyle only treatment usual care in the setting of newly diagnosed individuals with RRMS or CIS, which is the precursor to the development of MS. Due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, the study was redesigned from an in-person study to a virtual visit only study prior to enrolling study subjects.

Clinical Impact Through AI-assisted MS Care - A Retrospective Multi-center Observational Study.

The RECLAIM study aims to gather a centralized and harmonized dataset, enabling the secondary use of data for building AI-based models that will support diagnosis and prognosis of individual Multiple Sclerosis patient's disease course and treatment response in a real-world setting. Additionally, the data will be used to generate further insights on Multiple Sclerosis progression as well as to develop the tools to monitor this progression.

Clinical Impact Through AI-assisted MS Care - A Prospective Multi-center Study

The goal of the PROCLAIM study is to assess the effectiveness of quantitative brain MRI, as measured by icobrain mr, on the detection of disease activity in multiple sclerosis, including the identification of smouldering disease, and the downstream effects on clinical decision making and patient outcomes in a real-world setting. The study will compare an intervention arm implementing quantitative brain MRI (using the CE-marked medical device software icobrain mr) as part of Standard of Care, and a control arm implementing Standard of Care without quantitative brain MRI.

Glymphatic MRI in Clinically Isolated Syndrome

The brain possesses a system to get rid of unwanted substances, named Glymphatic System (GS). When this system is faulty, these accumulate, there is local inflammation, and progressive death of the cells. This occurs in neurological diseases including Parkinson's, or Alzheimer's. Inflammation and progressive death of the cells are also present in another neurological disorder, named Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Doctors think that GS dysfunction plays a role in MS too. In this research therefore, the aim is to study whether it drives inflammation, and disease progression in MS patients. The researchers have developed a new way to find signs of alteration of the GS using a scan named Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and will use it in a pilot study on patients with a condition named Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS), which often represents the very beginning of MS. It would therefore be demonstrated that the GS is a new mechanism of disease in CIS, which may associate with the symptoms, or the alterations in the levels of some substances in the blood suggestive of brain cells damage. Should this study be successful, this would provide preliminary evidence to perform a larger research study to assess if GS dysfunction drives the progression of MS.

Predictive Value of the Optic Nerve Involvement in Clinically Isolated Syndrome

Optic neuritis (ON) represents around 30% of clinical presentation of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Asymptomatic optic nerve involvement is very frequent in all stage of multiple sclerosis (MS) disease including the CIS. However, optic nerve is still not part of MS diagnosis criteria. The main objective of our regional and multicenter study is to evaluate the prognostic value of optic nerve involvement at the earliest clinical stage of MS (=CIS) for the diagnosis of clinically definite MS (2nd clinical relapse) and the delay until the 2nd relapse.

Visual Processing Speed and Objective Analysis of Ocular Movements in Multiple Sclerosis

This project aims to analyze ocular motility problems, visual processing speed and microperimetry, and their relationship with consolidated retinal structural biomarkers (optical coherence tomography, OCT) in patients with Multiple Sclerosis w/w reading complaints comparing with healthy subjects.

Pregnancy Registry, Infants, Serum/Milk Analysis (PRISMA)

PRISMA, is a pregnancy registry study, focused on comprehensively collecting information about pregnancy in women with chronic neurological conditions from across the United States and internationally. Depending on their specific condition (MS, CIS, NMOSD, or other) and their specific treatment, participants will be asked to contribute to different aspects of the study. (1) The biosamples will be blood, breast milk, infant stool, maternal stool and vaginal swab samples, collected at specific time points. (2) The online surveys will be collected at specific time points. All study activities will be discussed with participants upon enrollment. By collecting this information, the investigators hope to gain deeper insights into the relationship between pregnancy, the neurological condition, and maternal and infant health. For example, one of the sub-studies focuses on breast milk collection for women planning postpartum treatment with Ocrevus, Rituxan, Briumvi or Kesimpta. This study is fully remote and all sample collection is optional, so participants can choose which types of samples they wish to provide. For blood draws, participants can schedule a home visit through ExamOne, making participation even more convenient. The investigators aim to enroll women with chronic neurological conditions who are planning pregnancy, currently pregnant, or within one year postpartum.

Sun Yat-Sen Cohort of CNS Idiopathic Inflammatory Demyelinating Diseases

The goal of this observational study is to learn about pathogenesis and clinical prognosis of CNS IIDD in the Chinese population and to provide evidence-based clues for clinical treatment decisions. The main questions it aims to answer are: Question 1: Clarify the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of various diseases (MS, NMOSD, MOGAD, etc.) within IIDD in the Chinese population. Question 2: Analyze the relationship between biomarkers and the occurrence, progression, and prognosis of CNS IIDD cases in our hospital. Participants will 1. Receive the recommended diagnosis and treatment plans from current international and national guidelines or expert consensus, without additional special interventions. 2. Receive clinical evaluation, follow-up, and management from dedicated neuroimmunology specialists.

MS-ResearchBiomarkerS

This study is being conducted to investigate risk factors for disability progression in Multiple Sclerosis and related disorders (MSRD). The primary goal is to assess whether combining information from visual assessment, blood markers, as well as historical and ongoing longitudinal MRIs of the brain, orbit (the part of the skull where eyes are located), and/or spinal cord can predict changes in quantitative disability measures related to MSRD and neurological disease.

China National Registry of Neuro-Inflammatory Diseases

Central nervous system (CNS) idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases (IDD) are mainly diseases caused by autoimmune factors that result in CNS demyelination damage and loss. It tends to accumulate in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Multiple sclerosis (MS), clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) are all common IDDs of the CNS. Besides, primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS), autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy (GFAP-A), etc. may also be included because they are important differential diagnoses. This study will establish a large prospective cohort study database of Chinese IDD, which will record detailed electronic information on IDD patients, including demographic and socioeconomic data, medical history, clinical information, medication, and relevant examination results. The long-term observational study will be used to understand the natural history of disease, disability progression rates, imaging and biological indicators, long-term treatment approaches and prognosis of Chinese patients with IDD, to find predictive markers for IDD progression and prognosis, and to identify factors that influence the treatment and prognosis of patients with IDD.