Setting a research agenda for progressive multiple sclerosis: the International Collaborative on Progressive MS.
Despite significant progress in the development of therapies for relapsing MS, progressive MS remains comparatively disappointing. Our objective, in this paper, is to review the current challenges in developing therapies for progressive MS and identify key priority areas for research. A collaborative was convened by volunteer and staff leaders from several MS societies with the mission to expedite the development of effective disease-modifying and symptom management therapies for progressive forms of multiple sclerosis. Through a series of scientific and strategic planning meetings, the collaborative identified and developed new perspectives on five key priority areas for research: experimental models, identification and validation of targets and repurposing opportunities, proof-of-concept clinical trial strategies, clinical outcome measures, and symptom management and rehabilitation. Our conclusions, tackling the impediments in developing therapies for progressive MS will require an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to enable effective translation of research into therapies for progressive MS. Engagement of the MS research community through an international effort is needed to address and fund these research priorities with the ultimate goal of expediting the development of disease-modifying and symptom-relief treatments for progressive MS.
Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Neurological Institute, and Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44122, USA.
Robert J
RJ
Fox
Alan
A
Thompson
David
D
Baker
Peer
P
Baneke
Doug
D
Brown
Paul
P
Browne
Dhia
D
Chandraratna
Olga
O
Ciccarelli
Timothy
T
Coetzee
Giancarlo
G
Comi
Anthony
A
Feinstein
Raj
R
Kapoor
Karen
K
Lee
Marco
M
Salvetti
Kersten
K
Sharrock
Ahmed
A
Toosy
Paola
P
Zaratin
Kim
K
Zuidwijk
D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007391:International Cooperation; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D012107:Research Design; D035703:Therapies, Investigational; D016896:Treatment Outcome