28 Sept 17. MS studies

Edinburgh Imaging carries out scanning for a large & diverse number of research projects & clinical trials. The volunteers we scan are of all ages, ranging from healthy individuals, to those with conditions and illnesses under investigation in our projects & trials.

 

High Biotin study

This international study evaluates the safety & efficacy of a new investigational drug called MD1003 (high-dose Biotin).

Biotin is a vitamin that is normally present in food & is needed for energy production in cells. It could also help with myelin repair.

The study involves 11 visits over a 28 month period, by each participant, to the Anne Rowling Clinic, where they will undergo physical examinations, blood tests, ECG (heart tracing) & will complete questionnaires.

Participants will also undergo MR scanning at the Edinburgh Imaging RIE facility every 6 months, for a total of 4 scans on the Siemens Magnetom Prisma (neuro optimised) 3T MR scanner.

For full details of this study please click here.

 

CCMR One trial

Edinburgh Imaging Facility RIE & The Anne Rowling Clinic are also participating in a new national study, investigating the potential role of bexarotene in remyelination.

Nerves within the brain & spinal cord are protected by a surrounding layer of substance called myelin. In multiple sclerosis (MS), the immune system of the body attacks this myelin, stripping it off the nerve fibres. This causes the nerves to malfunction, leading to MS symptoms.

Participants will undergo MR scanning on the Edinburgh Imaging Facility RIE, Siemens Magnetom Prisma 3T MR scanner prior to trial commencement. Following scanning, participants will be asked to take several capsules (which might be bexarotene or a placebo) once a day for 6 months. Afterwards participants will undergo another MR scan at the Edinburgh Imaging Facility RIE, to assess for remyelination.

 For full details of this study please click here

The High Biotin study & CCMR One trial will join Edinburgh Imaging’s ongoing MS research studies, namely the MS Smart & Future MS studies.

Future MS study

Future MS is a large ongoing multi-centre observational cohort study, prospectively recruiting newly diagnosed relapsing remitting MS patients in Scotland. 

The study is currently recruiting from five neurology hubs in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen & Inverness. The target sample size is 450 across Scotland.  Each patient will undergo brain MR scanning at baseline (within six months of diagnosis) & 12 months later. 

Edinburgh Imaging staff will not only be involved with the scanning, but also with analysing the clinical, laboratory & genomic data gathered over the 12 month period.

The aim is to develop imaging markers, such as new or enlarging lesions, as well as brain tissue volume loss, to predict how severe someone’s MS diagnosis will be.

For full details of this study please click here

 

MS Smart trial

Multiple Sclerosis - Secondary Progressive Multi-Arm Randomisation Trial (MS-SMART), is run jointly with University College London, to assess the effect of three drugs (ibudilast, riluzole & amiloride).

Participants will take one of the drugs OR a placebo pill (a dummy pill) for two years. No one will know which treatment they are taking while the trial in on-going. ‘Blinding’ as this is known, is widely used in clinical trials & ensures the results of the trial are not subject to bias.

During the trial, participants undergo clinical assessment, as well as a number of MR scans.

For full details of this study please click here