What is the Research Partnership Scheme?

The Partnership Scheme is an opportunity to generate mutual understanding and respect between people affected by MS and the research community.

The Society’s aims for the programme are:

• closely follow the progress of MS Society funded research projects
• improve communication about research and make research more accessible to the wider MS community
• encourage partnership working between researchers and Research Network members generating mutual understanding and respect

It is the intention, in the future, to allocate a Partner team to every MS Society funded research project that is 2 years or more in length.

 

How does it work?

Research Partners act as a link between the Society and researchers, to help communicate the progress and results of research to people affected by MS and the wider community. The programme enables the partners to inform researchers about life with MS and help improve the way the researchers communicate with a lay audience. It also gives researchers the opportunity to inform partners about the research process and important areas of MS related research.

A team of three partners, who are members of the Research Network, are assigned to a research project. One person is designated to be the spokesperson, acting as the main point of contact between the Team and the researchers   

Past 'buddy' projects

In September 2003 three teams of Buddies were involved in a brand new pilot scheme, involving people affected by MS in its research programme. The experiences of all those involved in the pilot scheme have been taken on board and informed the roll out of the Buddy Programme

The projects that were covered were:

• Developing physiotherapy services for people with MS
• Interaction of molecules involved in remyelination
• The role of signalling molecules in the development of MS

Early in 2005 three new teams of Buddies were assigned to three new research projects:

• Using Botox to treat bladder problems
• Investigating the role of Campath-1H in axon protection and reduced inflammation in MS
• Tracking immune cells active in MS

 

What do people say?

The involvement of people affected by MS in the research process has already been widely welcomed by researchers and healthcare professionals in the MS field. The reaction from the researchers taking part in the Buddy pilot scheme was equally enthusiastic.

Professor Nicola Woodroofe at Sheffield Hallam University reported "A real benefit of the Buddy Scheme has been for researchers in the lab here. Some of the younger people aren't familiar with MS and the disease they're working on. They're much more aware now of the symptoms and how they can be so different. Meeting people with MS has been a real motivator."

Sarah Bittlestone was Buddy Team Leader of the Newcastle project and was also very enthusiastic about the programme, commenting "Our project visit was a fascinating experience, with the initial trepidation felt by both buddies and researchers quickly dispelled by our mutual interest in the project. The enthusiasm and dedication of the project team was obvious and it was fascinating to observe a project closely, discovering how obstacles had been overcome, and the project itself had evolved in order to achieve its goals. I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon."

Click here to read an interview with Jenny Henderson, another of the team leaders from the old 'Buddy' scheme.