title: A need for national registries and international collaborative research in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a growing need to identify biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS). Such markers may also be involved in the cause and pathogenesis of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Established national MS registries have through several decades allowed data collection to facilitate MS research. The European MS Registry (EUReMS) is a recent international collaborative effort to ultimately promote MS research and quality in health care across European countries. International collaborations based on such initiatives can facilitate studies on new biomarkers in MS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Important studies on data from MS registries, as well as national- and international collaboration networks have been conducted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The symposium "National MS Registries--to improve health care and research in Multiple Sclerosis" held in Bergen, Norway, earlier this year aimed to highlight the need and benefit from national MS registries and promote international collaborative research in MS.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Multiple Sclerosis Registry and Biobank, Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. kjmy@haukeland.no
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Myhr
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grytten
authors.forename: Ø
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Torkildsen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wergeland
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bø
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pugliatti
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Aarseth
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D012042:Registries
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers