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This is a unique programme involving researchers and people with MS across the UK

Some people with MS don’t respond to currently available treatments that reduce inflammation in the brain and spinal cord.

Dr Edgar and her team aim to identify how nerve cells communicate with myelin-making cells.

Beta-interferon is a disease modifying drug (DMD) used to reduce the number of relapses that people with relapsing remitting MS experience. Some people respond well to beta-interferon, some people do not respond well, and others experience bad reactions to the drug.

Research has shown that the brain can compensate, adapt to damage and develop new connections that help people recover physical functions of the body such as arm or leg movement.

Dr Gallagher is testing a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique – called hyperpolarized carbon-13 MRI – to measure changes in the brains of people with MS.

Professor Barkhof and his team have identified a feature of MRI scans that could help them distinguish MS from other types of damage.

Vitamin D is important for our health –our bodies need vitamin D to help absorb different nutrients, in particular calcium. We get most of our vitamin D through sun exposure.

This project aims to determine whether systemic infections (such as colds, sinusitis and chest infections) can affect the accumulation of disability in people with MS.

Our researchers are testing whether a flavonoid-rich cocoa drink can help combat fatigue in MS.

Fatigue is one of the most common and difficult symptoms of MS to manage. We need better treatments and management strategies that can help people with MS live life to the full.

This project aims to develop an imaging technique to detect early changes in acidity level in the brains of people with relapsing MS.

Our researchers are working to develop a blood test that can tell the difference between relapsing and progressive MS.

Our researchers want to develop a new way of measuring nerve damage.

Our researchers have identified a molecule called Gas6 that can help to reduce myelin damage. They will now investigate how Gas6 works in more detail using mice with a condition similar to MS. They will also explore how we can target Gas6 to boost the natural myelin repair process in the brain.

Researchers have shown that inflammation in MS can reduce blood flow to the brain and spinal cord, resulting in less oxygen reaching the cells. Our researchers want to know if improving blood flow could be beneficial in MS

This project aims to identify if a technique called intermittent theta burst stimulation treatment improves cognition for people with MS.

We co-funded an innovative three year trial to test potential treatments for secondary progressive MS. Although we found amiloride, fluoxetine and riluzole were not effective, we learnt a lot about biological pathways in MS.

In MS, the immune system damages the protective myelin coating around nerve cells. In order for the brain to repair the damage with new myelin, it first has to get rid of the old myelin debris.

Up to 80% of people with MS experience cognitive changes. These can include problems with memory and thinking, attention or multitasking. We want to develop a cognitive screening pathway to detect these changes.