Research We Fund

Improving cognition in people with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Multi-Arm, Randomized, Blinded, Sham-Controlled Trial of Cognitive Rehabilitation and Aerobic Exercise

Project Summary: Cognition is considered an “invisible” symptom that can affect up to 70% of people with progressive MS and has been identified as an area of prime concern by people with MS given the harmful effects on employment, relationships and activities of daily living. There is an essential need... Read the full article

MRI of Deep Grey Matter in multiple sclerosis

Summary: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is heavily used in multiple sclerosis (MS). It is highly effective for diagnosis of the disease. MRI is far less effective at tracking the disease progression and its response to therapy, largely due to reliance on only lesion measures. Other quantitative measures... Read the full article

Establishing an imaging biomarker for disease progression in multiple sclerosis

Summary: Therapy efficacy is evaluated using clinical measures in patients with MS, however these measures change slowly and are difficult to measure objectively, therefore clinical trials examining progression in multiple sclerosis (MS) require a very large number of people and long period of time... Read the full article

MicroRNA-145 is a key regulator of oligodendrocytes maturation and CNS myelination

Summary: Oligodendrocytes are myelin producing cells of the brain and spinal cord. Oligodendrocytes undergo morphological changes prior to producing myelin for nerve fibers. The factors regulating the steps involved in these morphological changes are unknown. The research team will: Modulate specific... Read the full article

Web-based physiotherapy in moderate to severe MS

Project Description: Persons with MS may find it challenging to participate in regular physical activity or exercise, which is activity done to improve health and/or fitness. This is due to a number of reasons: exercise programs tailored to individuals with significant mobility impairments may be difficult... Read the full article

Determining the Impact of a Pilates Program in Multiple Sclerosis

Project Description: Pilates - a type of exercise that focuses on body positions and movement – is becoming popular among people living with MS as an alternative to the more traditional exercise programs. Although somewhat limited, previous research has suggested Pilates may have some beneficial effects... Read the full article

Development and Usability Testing of the ATOMIC (Active Teens MultIple sClerosis) Mobile App to Increase Physical Activity Levels in Youth with Multiple Sclerosis

Project Description: Previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between higher self-reported physical activity and lower MS disease burden, as well as lower levels of fatigue and depression, in children and adolescents living with MS. Unfortunately, youth with MS overall tend to be highly inactive... Read the full article

Expansion of antigen-specific regulatory networks for the treatment of CNS autoimmunity

Summary: Vaccines work to expand the number of white blood cells to protect against viruses, bacteria or cancer. Vaccines can also potentially be developed to delete white blood cells causing disease like multiple sclerosis (MS). Whether the use of a novel technology, called nanotechnology, can be used... Read the full article

Outcome and Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Multiple Sclerosis: ‘Heart-MS’

Summary: Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in multiple sclerosis (MS). The frequency of heart disease also appears higher in persons with MS than in persons without MS. It is unknown if people with MS are treated differently when they develop heart disease, or if their heart disease... Read the full article

Comorbidity, cognition and multiple sclerosis (C-COMS)

Summary: Co-existing health conditions that can affect thinking and memory, such as high blood pressure or mood problems, are common in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). It is unknown whether common co-existing conditions including depression, anxiety, diabetes and high blood pressure increase... Read the full article

A double-blind placebo-controlled study of mixed-amphetamine salts, extended release (Adderall XR) for cognitive impairment in MS

Summary: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) causes problems with mobility, balance, and vision and can frequently affect cognition. Specifically, in relation to cognition, MS frequently affects processing speed (PS), or the ability to take in and interpret information quickly and meaningfully, and also affects... Read the full article

Assessing remyelination in the presence of myelin debris using MRI

Summary: Tissue repair occurs in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions and can be promoted with appropriate treatments. In particular, repairing myelin, which is the protective covering of nerve fibers damaged in MS, is shown to be potentially possible. Non-invasive measurement of tissue repair, or remyelination, Read the full article

A multi-site randomized controlled trial of MS INFoRM: An interactive fatigue management resource for persons with MS

Summary: Fatigue impacts nearly two-thirds of people that have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). There are limited resources available to help people manage fatigue in MS. The research team will: Perform a randomized control trial to determine if a self-directed resource, which allows people... Read the full article

Progressive degeneration from onset in pediatric multiple sclerosis: Evaluation of clinical and health-related quality of life, early loss of brain integrity and accelerated immunological senescence

Investigators: Dr. Brenda Banwell , Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie , Health Science Centre Winnipeg Dr. Amit Bar-Or , McGill University Dr. Douglas Arnold , McGill University Dr. Ann Yeh , Hospital for Sick Children Project Summary: Most people think of multiple sclerosis (MS)... Read the full article

Impact of Disease-Modifying Therapy on Relapse Rates and Health Care Resource Utilization

Summary: The clinical trials of some multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs (such as the interferons or Copaxone) only lasted 2-3 years. It is unknown how well these drugs work for longer periods of time and the “real-world” benefits of MS drugs. The research team will: Compare the frequency of doctor’s visits, Read the full article

Coming off cannabis in MS: a longitudinal, cognitive and fMRI study

Summary: Almost one in five people with multiple sclerosis (MS) use cannabis. People with MS using cannabis to alleviate some of their symptoms have more extensive deficits generally involving information processing speed, working memory and executive function. What is not known in MS is whether the... Read the full article

Assessing safety monitoring in patients taking oral multiple sclerosis treatments [ASYMPTOTE]

Summary: Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that were given by injection first became available for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). More recently, DMTs that are given by mouth have entered the market. Although these oral drugs provide more choice for people with MS, concerns over their safety have... Read the full article

The importance of diffusely abnormal white matter on disability and progression in multiple sclerosis: insights from imaging and immunology

Summary: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to study the brains of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Bright areas of damage, known as lesions, are common in people with MS and are easily seen with MRI. MRI can also detect very subtle intensity changes in some MS brains. Whether these... Read the full article

Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation (MSCT): a potential cell based treatment for inflammatory forms of multiple sclerosis

Project Summary: The unique properties of stem cells make them promising candidates for treatments that can slow MS disease activity and repair tissue damage in the central nervous system. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can give rise to specific tissues and have demonstrated... Read the full article

A Randomized, Controlled, Clinical Trial of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea in Multiple Sclerosis

Summary: Poor sleep is a problem for many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and is related to fatigue. Whether treatment of sleep disorders can markedly improve fatigue and other symptoms in some MS patients needs to be tested in a study. The research team is: Conducting a randomized, controlled, Read the full article

Effects of FES cycling combining leg and trunk muscle stimulations in persons with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study

Summary: Exercising slows progression, reduces pain and maintains good physical and mental health in multiple sclerosis (MS). Functional electrical stimulation(FES) is one approach where a mild electrical stimulation is applied to the muscle groups to promote movement. While some studies have identified... Read the full article

The pathologic basis of magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis

Summary: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to detect white matter (myelin dense regions) lesions – bright areas of damage commonly found in the brains of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). MRI also has the ability to detect subtle changes (or fluctuations) in white matter. How... Read the full article

Understanding Multiple Sclerosis Cortical Pathology From a Neuroanatomical Perspective: Laminar Quantitative MRI Analysis of Cortical Neuroinflammation

Summary: MS is often characterized by the damage (or lesions) in the brain and spinal cord. One type of MS lesion particularly widespread is called a "sub-pial" cortical lesion. It lies along the surface of the brain. This research team is developing improved methods to detect "sub-pial" lesions using... Read the full article

“It’s like a disconnect” - Investigating the role of sensorimotor integration in upper extremity dysfunction in MS

Summary: Approximately half of people with MS report impairments in hand function, leading to difficulties performing everyday tasks and activities, such as using eating and buttoning clothing. Avoiding use of the troublesome limb not only leads to a decreased quality of life, but also affects disability... Read the full article

The Interleukin-1 Cytokine System as a Target for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Summary: The molecule, interleukin (IL)-1ß, has been identified as a key messenger involved in the development and severity of central nervous system autoimmunity. IL-1ß may be acting like a key that opens the door to the central nervous system, allowing entry of aggressive immune cells in to the brain... Read the full article

A Pilot Trial: MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound for Refractory Tremor in Multiple Sclerosis

Summary: Almost 60% of people living with MS are affected by tremor or shakiness. Of those individuals, between 3-15% have moderate to severe disability related to tremor. Tremor can affect quality of life. Drugs are most commonly used in the management of MS tremor, but with limited success and potential... Read the full article

Age as a Risk Factor for Multiple Sclerosis Progression: Examining Immune Cell - Microbiome Interactions and Multiple Sclerosis

Summary: This study is examining the molecular and cellular factors that drive multiple sclerosis (MS) progression. Using a novel animal model and human samples, this research aims to understand the effect of both age and microbes in the gut on MS progression. Project Description: The molecular basis... Read the full article

Clinical trial to assess the use of cannabis derivatives in the treatment of multiple sclerosis symptoms

Project Summary: Few options are available to treat MS symptoms such as leg weakness with spasticity, pain, fatigue, sleep disruption, mood and cognitive impairment, thereby affecting the quality of life of those living with MS. There is a need to better understand and assess the use of cannabis derivatives... Read the full article

Examining sex differences in neuropathic pain behaviours in the EAE model

Summary: Chronic pain has a major effect on the quality of life of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Chronic pain is reported to a much higher degree and rate in females with MS than men. Why females are impacted by chronic pain in MS more than men is still unknown. The research team will:... Read the full article

Characteristics of NMOSD and MOGAD in Canada

Background: Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) and Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Disease (MOGAD) are inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system that mimic MS and are often highly disabling. These conditions do not respond to most multiple sclerosis (MS)... Read the full article

Examining Inflammatory Processes in the Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) as a Driver of Neuropathic Pain in MS

Background: It is estimated that half of all individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience chronic pain. Chronic ‘neuropathic’ pain is particularly distressing, because conventional analgesic therapies are largely ineffective or are associated with dose-limiting side effects. The development of... Read the full article

Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Atherosclerosis is condition in which the arteries are narrowed due to a build-up of plaque. The plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, clotting material from the blood and other factors. Atherosclerosis can occur silently without any clinical symptoms, this is called subclinical atherosclerosis... Read the full article

Open-Label Trial of Minocycline in Early Multiple Sclerosis: Confirmation of Treatment Benefit

Background: Minocycline could serve as an early, immediate treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), from first symptom onset to treatment. During this period, people with MS and suspected MS often feel afraid and helpless, as early treatment is recommended. The current treatment gap ranges from weeks... Read the full article

Predicting Disease Deterioration in Multiple Sclerosis

Background: A current limitation in multiple sclerosis (MS) care is the ability to accurately predict whether a person’s MS will worsen and when, since the disease trajectory differs for each individual with MS. Being able to better predict a person’s disease trajectory can influence the healthcare... Read the full article

Role and Therapeutic Potential of Neuregulin-1 in Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Many of the current disease modifying medications are ineffective at preventing progressive neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). The lack of regenerative therapies highlights the need to develop new treatments that can promote repair of damaged myelin—the protective coating surrounding... Read the full article

Approaches to Repairing Damaged White Matter in Children and Young Adults with MS

Project Summary: While existing MS therapies effectively target the inflammatory factors related to the disease, there is a need for effective treatments that can reverse the progressive nature of the disease by promoting repair of white matter and reducing disability. Preclinical evidence shows that... Read the full article

Training to restore walking and promote nervous system repair in multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial to determine the importance of intensity

Summary: New research suggests that the brain’s ability to repair and reorganize still exists in people with MS and that aerobic exercise seems to help preserve brain and spinal cord tissue in animal studies of MS. This research aims to understand if intense aerobic exercise combined with large amounts of... Read the full article

Cancer in Multiple Sclerosis: Diagnosis and Outcomes

Summary: People with MS often have co-existing health conditions such as cancer. Cancer is the most common cause of death in people with MS after MS itself. Cancers of the breast, colon and rectum are among the most common cancers that affect Canadians, however we do not know very much about how often... Read the full article

Targeting T Cell Metabolism to Reduce Neuroinflammation in Multiple Sclerosis

Summary:  Western diet, obesity and related comordities are risk factors for MS onset and progression. Scientific evidence shows that restricting intake of methionine, an essential amino acid found in high-levels in meat-based diets, is associated with a prolonged lifespan (anti-aging), slower cancer... Read the full article

Canadian Prospective Cohort Study to Understand Progression in MS (CanProCo)

Summary: One of the unmet needs is a better understanding of, and treatment options for, progression in MS. While current therapies in MS aim to slow the progression of the disease, there are no treatment options that successfully alter the trajectory of progression. A key to altering progression in... Read the full article

Functional electrical stimulation cycling for managing mobility disability in people with multiple sclerosis

Summary: Exercise training has shown to be effective in improving mobility in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) however many studies have not looked at people with substantial walking impairment. Functional electrical stimulation(FES) cycling is one approach where a mild electrical stimulation is... Read the full article