title: The Norwegian Multiple Sclerosis Registry and Biobank.
abstract: OBJEVTIVES: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system with unknown cause and without any curable treatment. Research aiming at defining the pathogenesis of the disease is therefore needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Norwegian Multiple Sclerosis Registry and Biobank has been established for systematic collection of clinical and epidemiological data as well as biological samples. Data collection is based on informed consent from the individual patients and recordings by the treating neurologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All researchers have, by application, access to data and biological samples from the Norwegian Multiple Sclerosis Registry and Biobank.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By this combined effort from both patients and health care personnel, the Registry and Biobank aims to facilitate research for improved understanding of disease mechanisms and improved health care in multiple sclerosis.
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: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Aarseth
mesh_terms: D018070:Biological Specimen Banks; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D016743:Mental Competency; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries