Refuel-MS: Trial for digital intervention for MS fatigue completes recruitment
We're pleased to share that the 380th participant has joined the Refuel-MS trial. The trial team has now reached their recruitment goal, and we expect to have the first results in 2027.
Refuel-MS aims to help people manage their fatigue day to day. It’s an app-based digital treatment that could help people develop personalised ways of managing their fatigue. The researchers hope it could become part of standard NHS care for people with MS in the future.
The Refuel-MS trial team have now recruited 380 participants, reaching their recruitment goal.
Professor Rona Moss-Morris, Chief Investigator at Refuel-MS, says:
"We’re extremely proud to announce that we’ve hit our recruitment target, with a total of 380 people living with MS recruited. I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has made this possible.
We're now looking forward to the first results in 2027, which will show whether Refuel-MS is an effective treatment for MS fatigue."
Fatigue is one of the most common invisible symptoms of MS. But less than a third of people with MS experiencing fatigue have been offered treatments for this symptom as part of their routine care. That’s where the inspiration for Refuel-MS came from.
What happens now?
All participants are randomly split into two groups. Designing the trial in this way will help the researchers understand how Refuel-MS compares to existing treatments.
Group 1: Continues with their usual care and doesn’t get additional treatment for their fatigue.
Group 2: Uses the Refuel-MS app for 16 weeks, completing weekly sessions on a smartphone or tablet from home.
Participants can choose to focus on one of three different approaches:
They'll also receive support from healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, health psychologists or MS nurses trained in the Refuel-MS approach.
Why is this so important?
Fatigue is one of the most common invisible symptoms of MS. But fewer than a third of people with MS experiencing fatigue have been offered treatments for this symptom as part of their routine care.
We know people need better ways to manage their fatigue. If the results of Refuel-MS show the programme can help improve fatigue, we hope it will become widely available as routine NHS care.
Treatment for fatigue is vital. We’re proud to co-fund the Refuel-MS research project, and we’re pleased to hear the trial team has reached their recruitment goal. We’re excited to see the results in 2027 and hope they will show that Refuel-MS is an effective way of treating MS fatigue.
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You can find out what it's like to take part in a trial on our clinical trials page
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