Multiple sclerosis treatment now includes more than 20 disease-modifying therapies, ranging from injections to pills to twice-yearly infusions. Many people with relapsing MS now go years without new attacks, and research is shifting attention to progressive forms and to repairing damage already done.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing BTK inhibitors that may reach progressive MS, remyelinating drugs that aim to repair the damaged nerve coating, stem cell transplant for aggressive disease, and new approaches to fatigue and cognitive symptoms. Researchers are also studying the role of Epstein-Barr virus, which appears to trigger MS in many people.
BTK inhibitors
A new class of pills crosses into the brain and may calm MS at a deeper level than current drugs. Trials are testing whether they can slow progressive forms of MS.
Remyelination
Several drugs aim to rebuild the myelin coating damaged by MS. If successful, they could restore function rather than just prevent new attacks.
Stem cell transplant
Stem cell transplant has shown durable remission in aggressive relapsing MS. Trials are comparing it head-to-head with the strongest available medications.
What to know before you search
Eligibility often depends on MS type (relapsing or progressive), recent activity on MRI, prior treatments, and disability level.
What types of trials are currently open
- Treatment trials — Testing new MS medications, often pills or longer-acting infusions, to see if they prevent attacks better than current drugs.
- Disease-modifying trials — Testing drugs aimed at slowing or stopping progressive MS, where options have been limited.
- Stem cell trials — Studies of stem cell transplant for aggressive or treatment-resistant MS.
- Symptom trials — Testing treatments for fatigue, walking, bladder problems, and cognitive symptoms.
- Observational studies — Following people with MS to learn how the disease progresses and what predicts response to treatment.
Recently added Multiple Sclerosis trials
Dual-Task Training in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis
This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of an 8-week dual-task exercise training program compared to conventional functional exercise training on motor and cognitive functions in adolescents with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (PBMS). PBMS is a rare, chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that begins in childhood or adolescence and often leads to motor impairments, balance problems, fatigue, and cognitive deficits, particularly in information processing speed, attention, memory, and executive functions. These symptoms significantly affect independence in daily activities and quality of life. Participants aged 12-18 years with PBMS diagnosis (according to the 2017 revised McDonald criteria) and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score below 6 will be randomly assigned to two parallel groups. Both groups will receive 16 supervised sessions (twice a week for 8 weeks, approximately 45 minutes per session). The conventional exercise group will perform structured functional exercises including aerobic stepping, progressive strengthening, and balance training. The dual-task group will perform the same motor exercises while simultaneously completing cognitive tasks (such as backward counting, color and object matching, simple mathematical operations, alphabet-based word finding, and short story telling). Cognitive task difficulty will be progressively increased weekly. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention. Primary outcomes include motor function (6-Minute Walk Test), functional mobility (Timed Up and Go Test), balance (Mini-BESTest), and cognitive performance (Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis - BICAMS battery). Secondary outcomes include fatigue (PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale), health-related quality of life (PedsQL Generic Core Scales - child and parent versions), and Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC). We hypothesize that the dual-task exercise program will produce superior improvements in motor functions, balance, cognitive performance, fatigue, and quality of life compared to conventional exercise training.
A Smart Phone Application to Improve Adoption of the 2024 Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Guidelines
The goal of this study is to establish whether use of a digital intervention can improve adherence and alignment with the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) 2024 Guidelines. A subset of the study will focus on whether the intervention improves outcomes for young adults living with CKD, in the context of the imminent co-location of Children's Health Ireland on the St. James's Hospital campus. Young adults with CKD transitioning to adult services are recognised as a high-risk and vulnerable cohort, with many individuals unaware of increased cardiovascular risk and mortality¹². In response, and in the context of the co-location of Children's Health Ireland on the St. James's Hospital site, a young adult nephrology clinic has been established. The KDIGO CKD 2024 Guidelines identify transition as a period of increased risk and include recommendations regarding cardiovascular risk factor targets and the use of therapies known to delay CKD progression³. Electronic communication is a preferred method for accessing health information among many young adults⁴⁵ and aligns with Sláintecare digital health strategies⁶. A recently established, award-winning St. James's Hospital renal smartphone application is currently used by over 3,000 individuals living with CKD. The study aims to determine whether use of the application improves adherence to KDIGO guideline recommendations, with the objective of delaying CKD progression and associated complications. The application will support optimisation of care by signposting opportunities for evidence-based interventions (e.g., SGLT2 inhibitors, renin-angiotensin system inhibition) to healthcare providers. The application will also provide participants with tailored recommendations, reminders, educational materials, and collection of patient-reported outcome measures. Due to the diverse population and range of specialties at St. James's Hospital, the young adult clinic serves distinct subgroups, including individuals with sickle cell anaemia and survivors of cancer and haematological malignancies. These populations will be examined in the context of KDIGO guideline implementation, contributing to a limited international evidence base. This research evaluates an intervention designed to improve care for adults living with chronic kidney disease.
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