Clinical MS Research Group
Personalised Treatments in MS (Brown Group)
Led by a panel of expert patients, we use big data and cutting-edge artificial intelligence to identify the right drug, for the right person at the right time.
We enable everyone in the UK to participate in the most crucial research, and we reduce healthcare inequalities.
Learn more about our projects below.
TOIL-MS [Treatment Optimisation and Innovation Lab]
We use advanced statistical and artificial intelligence methods to emulate clinical trials. Collaborating with international leaders in statistics (Jonathan Sterne and Tomas Kalincik) and artificial intelligence (Mihaela van der Schaar) we use data collected from hospital notes (stored in databases) -"real-world data" - to understand the best treatment for each person with MS, NMO and related disorders.
These projects have been published in JAMA, Lancet Neurology, Brain and Multiple Sclerosis Journal (see publications).
THRIVE-MS [Transforming Health Records for automated Real-world data generation, Improved care, Value and Efficiency]
Databases like UK MS Register and MSBase contain clinical information from less than 1% of UK people with MS or NMO. Electronic hospital notes are inefficient, worsening waiting lists and treatment delays. And opportunities to improve safety and reduce clinician burnout are unrealised.
We are solving this by modifying the three most commonly-used electronic healthcare records to transform clinical care and efficiency; and – in those who consent – automatically extracting de-identified data and sending it to multiple databases plus a (new) central trial eligibility checker. The result: detailed clinical and safety data will be transferred to the databases and trial eligibility checker every time they are updated during routine care, without any additional time needed from clinicians.
CONSENTOR [Combined One-off Neuroimmunological conditions Study and trial Eligibility Notification Tool and Observational Research consent form]
Busy hospital clinics mean that most people with MS and NMO are not invited to participate in research, be it contributing their existing information to databases or hearing about cutting-edge trials.
CONSENTOR solves this. It empowers people with MS, NMO or any other neuroimmunological condition to sign up to multiple research tools, all by completing a single online form:
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To sign up to multiple secure databases including MSBase, UK MS Register, UK MS pregnancy register. This means their detailed information from hospital notes (including blood results and MRI scans) can help researchers to uncover disease and treatment breakthroughs
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To consent to approved research being done at their hospital using their existing information
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To participate in the first-ever trial eligibility checker for people with these conditions – as soon as they become eligible for a trial they will be sent information about the trial and their local study team's contact details
MS-EQUAL
Our pioneering research program to measure and address the gross inequalities faced by people in every known under-served group - even those that have not made it to clinic.