The Research House is an independent  Market research firm and we are interested in speaking with patients who are being treated for multiple sclerosis to take part in a paid focus group on the subject on the subject of  multiple sclerosis  to be held on 9th August  at our facility in Wigmore Street Central London.

Before we start, I would like to reassure you that this study satisfies all requirements for a bona fide market research study; there will be absolutely no sales or promotion activities along with or consequent to the discussion. Our client are trying to find different ways to improve the treatment of patients with Multiple sclerosis.

The interviews will last one hour and can take place 6.00pm,  respondents will be paid £75 for their time and opinions and £50 referral fee to anyone that can recommend someone being treated for Multiple Sclerosis (and if the qualify).

The next stage, if you are interested in participating, is to take you through some screening questions to determine eligibility.  Normally we do this over the phone.  All information given will be strictly confidential.

Telephone: 0207 487 9185

Email: leads@research-house.co.uk

We are seeking recruitment of participants for a new online survey we are currently conducting.

We are looking for teenagers of 13-18 years old to complete an online survey about their thoughts and feelings about their parents' MS.

Please see the information sheets for teenagers and their parents for more information.

Teenagers, after reading the information sheet and taking consent from their parent, will be asked to complete the anonymous online survey via the link in the information sheet.

• Information sheet for Teenagers
• Information sheet for Parents

If you require further information please contact Angeliki Bogosian on 02380 598721 or ab2406@soton.ac.uk

Do you have multiple sclerosis (MS)? Or do you know somebody who has MS? If YES, Imperial College London is recruiting for participants in research into availability and access to MS clinical trials.

Imperial College London will be conducting a cohort study that will collect essential information on the condition and help people with MS and their clinicians find out about available clinical trials and therapies through a collaborative process across a number of UK MS centres.

To find out more about the study and your potential participation, CLICK HERE

PRC-REMS Study
Patient research cohort - rapidly evolving multiple sclerosis (PRC-REMS) is a study funded by the Medical Research Council and sponsored by Imperial College London.

The study will be conducted at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust hospitals in London (Charing Cross Hospital and Hammersmith Hospital).

Objective of the Patient Research Cohort is to facilitate patient access to clinical trials testing new therapeutic interventions, or access to second- line treatments. In order to do this, we are aiming to recruit 200 MS patients into the study, male and female from 18-60 years of age who meet certain inclusion criteria for active, evolving MS.

For further information about the study, please contact the Principal Investigator:

Dr Paolo Muraro
Email: p.muraro@imperial.ac.uk
Telephone:  020 7594 6670
Or the study Research Nurse, Julius Labao:
Telephone: 075 319 40601

If you wish to take part

• You can talk to your Consultant Neurologist (or GP if you are not under a Neurologist’s care), who can initiate your referral to us.
• We can send you a study information sheet and you can get back to us if you are interested.

The scope of our work
The wide spectrum of studies being carried out by our group encompass genetic, molecular, cellular and systems approaches to understanding the disease process in MS. Our ultimate goal is translating the insights obtained from basic, experimental and clinical studies into the development of novel therapies.

We would like to invite you to take part in a research study. To help you decide if you would like to volunteer please take time to read the following information carefully.

The aim of this trial is to find out  if regular Aimspro injections provide a suitable therapy for bladder  symptoms in patients suffering from MS.

To date, there have been no successful trials of new treatments in the secondary progressive type of multiple sclerosis (SPMS). We have reason to believe, however, that the administration of a special preparation of goat serum antibodies (Aimspro) to people with SPMS can be beneficial. We have data that suggest that the drug may benefit, particularly the bladder symptoms associated with this condition.

We are conducting this trial at the Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust in Hampstead. We are looking for volunteers with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis to take part in this trial.

Please check to see if you fulfil ALL of the following criteria:

1. 18 years or older.
2. Have clinically definite SPMS.
3. Be ambulant, walking aids allowed. (you may use a wheelchair some of the time)
4. Urinary frequency of  ³ 8 times per 24-hours
5. Have a record of MRI brain or spinal cord abnormalities consistent with the diagnosis of MS.
6. Have never taken Aimspro before
7. Have had no relapses in the past 6 months
8. Are not planning to become pregnant in the next year
9. Change of Criteria - Live in the UK

If you answered YES to ALL of the questions above, you may be eligible to take part in our trial.

You shall be remunerated for any transport costs you incur while coming in for your visits. Please call Dr. Shozab Khan at 07784493128.

Note: You must fulfil ALL of the above criteria.

Do you talk to your GP about information that you found on the internet?

We are a small team of researchers from the e-Health Unit, PCPH, University College London based in Archway.  We are currently conducting a study to try and determine what internet informed patients want from their GP, and we will be conducting interviews with people who have used the internet for health related information, and used this information in their consultation with a GP.

You will receive a gift of £25 for taking part in a face-to-face or telephone interview lasting up to 45 minutes. This research study is funded by the Royal College of General Practitioners, and we have Ethical and Research Governance approval for the study.

For further information contact Orla Ward :
o.ward@pcps.ucl.ac.uk
020 7288 3475 or visit
www.ucl.ac.uk/pcph/research/ehealth/tools.htm

Patient Information Leaflet

Clinical Research and MS:  A Combination Approach

A group of worldwide researchers is working on an oral investigational medication to be used in combination with Copaxone® (glatiramer acetate).  You may be eligible for participation in this study if you:
1. Are between the ages of 18 and 55 years old
2. Have been diagnosed with MS
3. Have been on a stable dose of Copaxone® for at least 26 weeks
4. Have not experienced a relapse of your MS symptoms in the past 2 months

If you would like to find out more about this MS study, please contact a research centre near you:

Department of Neurology, Royal Victoria Infirmary
Ward 11 Office
Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle, NE1 4LP
Contact:  44(0)191 282 4949; david.bates@nuth.nhs.uk

Neuroscience Directorate, Division of Clinical Neurology
Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust
Derby Road, Nottingham, NG7 2RD
Contact:  44(0)115 970 9735; Nikos.Evangelou@nuh.nhs.uk

Department of Neurology, University Hospital of North Staffordshire
Princes Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7LN
Contact:  44(0)1782 715444 (sb), 44(0)1782 554737 (sec); member@hawkins150.freeserve.co.uk

Do you suffer from urinary incontinence due to Multiple Sclerosis or Spinal Cord Injury?

DIGNITY STUDY: An international phase III clinical study looking at the potential of using an INJECTABLE TREATMENT for people with Multiple Sclerosis or Spinal Injuries, who experience urinary incontinence episodes, resulting from overactive bladder.

What does participation involve?

• An assessment visit and if you are eligible you will receive the first study medication plus a potential second medication after a period of at least 12 weeks
• For you to record details about your bladder activity using a paper diary

Am I eligible for the Dignity study?

To be eligible for this trial will need to meet the following criteria*:

• You must be 18 – 80 years old and weigh at least 50 Kg (110 lbs)
• Urinary incontinence
• Have a spinal cord injury at the T1 level or below OR have been diagnosed
with multiple sclerosis
• Willingness to use intermittent catheterization
* other criteria apply which your doctor will discuss with you

Interested in participating?
If you are interested in taking part in this study you should consult your doctor to refer you to one of the participating centres.

Contact Details of Participating Centres:

City: BRISTOL
Name: Mr Marcus Drake
Title: Consultant Urologist
Centre Address: Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB
Tel: 0117 959 5690
Email:  marcus.drake@bui.ac.uk

City: GLASGOW
Name: Mr Graeme Conn
Title: Consultant Urologist
Centre Address: South Glasgow University Hospital NHS Trust, Department of Urology, 1345 Govan Road, Glasgow, G51 4TF
Tel: (0044) (0)141 201 1514
Email:  mary.spellacy@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

City: LONDON
Name: Prof Claire Fowler
Title: Consultant Urologist
Centre Address: The National Surgery for Neurology and Neurosurgery. Uro-Neurology
Queens Square, London, WC1N 3BG
Tel: (0044) (0)207 676 2024
Email: clare.fowler@uclh.nhs.uk

City: SHEFFIELD
Name: Prof Christopher Chapple
Title: Consultant Urological Surgeon
Centre Address: Royal Hallamshire Hospital Urology Research Office, J Floor, Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2JF
Tel: (0044) (0)114 271 2559
Email: c.r.chapple@sheffield.ac.uk

City: SCUNTHORPE
Name: Mr Liaqat Chowoo
Title: Consultant Urologist
Centre Address: Scunthorpe General Hospital Dept of Urology, Scunthorpe. UK. DN15 7BH
Tel: (0044) (0)1724 282282
Email: liaqat.chowoo@nlg.nhs.uk or cynthia.stockdale@nlg.nhs.uk

MS research: a request for help

Do you have MS and are of Maltese origin?

A recent study published in the medical journal Neurology (January 2008) has shown that prevalence of MS in Malta is extremely low compared to neighbouring Sicily. Whilst genes undoubtedly play a role in the low levels of MS in Malta, it is likely that the environment has a significant effect on whether people go on to develop MS.

The author of the study (Dr. Geoffrey Dean) is interested to find out if UK born children of Maltese immigrants to the UK have a higher incidence of MS, unlike their parents born in Malta. If this is the case, it will increase the evidence for the importance of exposure to the local environment (i.e. in this case migration to the UK) as a risk of developing MS.

How can you help this important research?
Dr. Dean is requesting your help if:
• You have been diagnosed with MS and are of Maltese origin (either Maltese born or born in the UK)
• If you aware of anyone of Maltese origin with MS (either Maltese born or born in the UK) to please pass on this information

Dr. Dean writes ‘I would be grateful for your assistance in this research by contacting me, in confidence, if you fulfil the above criteria by writing to me:’

Geoffrey Dean, CBE, MD, FRCP, FFCM
C/O The Health Research Board
73 Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2
Ireland

Email:  hrb@hrb.ie (attention of Dr. Geoffrey Dean)

For further background information you can contact Dr. Lee Dunster, Head of Research and Information at the MS Society on:

Telephone: 020 8438 0956
Email: Ldunster@mssociety.org.uk