Investigating functional immune profiles in Multiple Sclerosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating functional immune profiles in the central and peripheral immune system of patients with Multiple Sclerosis
IRAS ID
260367
Contact name
Denise Fitzgerald
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queens University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
This study will investigate the immune profiles, mediators and their functions within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Patients with different subtypes of MS, patients with a diagnosis of clinically or radiologically isolated syndrome and controls, who are already undergoing lumbar puncture for diagnostic or therapeutic indications, will be asked to voluntarily donate a small sample of CSF and blood for research purposes. The CSF will be processed in a research laboratory and different immune profiles/mediators analysed. Data will be collected about the number and functions of specific groups of immune profiles in specific groups of patients. Data will be collected on gender, age, MS subtype, disease duration, whether patients are experiencing exacerbations, groups that are deteriorating over time and groups on different types of treatments. Patients with Clinically or Radiologically Isolated Syndrome will be followed up to ascertain if they meet the 2017 McDonald diagnostic criteria for MS. Numbers and functions of specific immune cell populations will be compared in these groups of research volunteers.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0036
Date of REC Opinion
5 Mar 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion