iMSMS

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  International Multiple Sclerosis Microbiome Study

• IRAS ID

  191230

• Contact name

  Siddharthan Chandran

• Contact email

  Siddharthan.Chandran@ed.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Edinburgh

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  This application is for the UK arm of the study only.

  Multiple Sclerosis(MS) is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. While the genetic factors are well documented, exactly how the environment influences our immune system has been difficult to pinpoint.
  This is the first international, large-scale microbiome research study in MS identifying 2,000 MS volunteers and 2,000 healthy volunteers from the USA, UK and Argentina. Recruitment of adults with any form of MS and healthy household companions. Volunteers will be asked to provide a blood and stool sample that will be sent to a central laboratory and to answer some dietary questionnaires.

  Our bodies contain ten times more bacterial cells than human cells and the bacterial gene pool (known as the “microbiome”) is 150 times larger than the human gene pool. These bacteria perform functions that are essential to our survival and wellbeing. However if the bacterial community living in our gut is disrupted, diseases can occur.

  This study will use the latest advances in DNA sequencing technology and computer-assisted analysis to identify bacterial populations that are more abundant (or absent) in MS patients.

  A major determinant of our gut microbiota is our diet. While eating a healthy diet is beneficial, it is also possible to alter our gut microbiota by altering what we eat. Modulation of specific microbes can only be achieved if their identity is revealed. The study aims to identify which microbes are needed to restore a healthy balance and which may be dangerous and therefore need to be avoided or removed. Understanding this balance and how to control it may lead the way to a new kind of MS treatment based on probiotics (foods containing live bacteria that can be beneficial), prebiotics (to encourage the growth of existing beneficial bacteria), and antibiotics (to eliminate unwanted bacteria).

• REC name

  South East Scotland REC 01

• REC reference

  16/SS/0005

• Date of REC Opinion

  2 Feb 2016

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion