Very different disease course rates in secondary progressive MS

The Big MS Data Network was used for analysis showing that people with
primary progressive MS progressed at different rates during their disease.
Image: Big MS Data Network

by Dr Loretta Piccenna, Research Manager, Department of Neuroscience, Monash University

Background

People who have primary and secondary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis require great consideration both in clinical practice and research due to huge unmet needs. 

Primary and secondary progressive MS are forms in which disability from the disease continues to get worse (with time without experiencing relapses) and does not resolve. So, these forms do not respond in the same way to treatment used for the more common form, relapsing-remitting MS.

Changing treatment can help MS patients: study

The MSBase Foundation allows global
monitoring of outcomes for people with MS

Monash University researchers have used the world’s largest multiple sclerosis (MS) registry, MSBase, to provide evidence that will help those with MS take the best medicine for them.

People with MS often need to switch drugs to fully control their disease. These switch decisions are complex because until now there has been no good evidence to choose one new drug over another.

How a very simple test can help clinicians see subtle cognitive changes in multiple sclerosis

L-R: Dr Daniel Merlo , Prof Helmut Butzkueven and A/Prof Anneke
Van Der Walt are first and senior authors on a paper describing a tool
they have developed for assessing cognitive function in MS.

More than 50% of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience cognitive problems as part of their disease. These cognitive problems subtly worsen with time and can be difficult to measure with standard neuropsychological assessments. Hence, it can be challenging for neurologists to monitor and detect small changes in cognitive function in day-to-day practice.

Monash researchers have developed a simple set of tests to detect subtle changes in cognitive function in people living with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The tests are collectively known as ‘MSReactor’.

World's first major study shows delayed MS onset due to pregnancy

Prof Helmut Butzkueven (left) & Dr Vilija Jokubaitis (right),

lead authors on the MS and pregnancy study. Vilija is presenting

on the research Monday 22 Sept 12:30 PM. See more & Zoom link

• First major study to look at delayed MS onset due to pregnancy
• The comprehensive study confirms that pregnancy can slow MS onset
• Study uses an Australian led global data base of more than 70,000 people with MS
• Findings suggest that delayed and reduced rates of pregnancy globally likely associate with increased incidence of MS amongst women of childbearing age

A comprehensive international study, led by Monash researchers, has definitively found that pregnancy can delay the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) by more than 3 years.

Welcome to Jacinta Opie, Multiple Sclerosis Neuro Immunology Unit!

Welcome to Ms Jacinta Opie, who has just joined the Multiple Sclerosis Neuro Immunology (MSNI) Unit with Helmut Butzkueven's group. Jacinta is a Senior Research Project Manager responsible for a project investigating markers of progression in MS, part of the MSBase Registry. She has more than 20 years’ experience across the public, private and International health sectors in operational and project management. She also has experience across areas including change management, leading key stakeholder engagement, contract management and clinical advisory with a specific interest in innovation and research.

Congratulations to new Head of Neuroscience, Professor Helmut Butzkueven

Professor Helmut Butzkueven is an international leader in

translational research into Multiple Sclerosis

Monash University and Alfred Health are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Helmut Butzkueven to the joint position as The Van Cleef Roet Chair of Neuroscience and Head of the Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, and Director of Neurology, Alfred Health.

Professor Butzkueven is an outstanding Neurologist and Clinician-Scientist, who is an international leader in translational research into Multiple Sclerosis. Amongst his many research achievements is the founding of the international MSBase Immunology Registry, which has now prospectively enrolled >70,000 patients from 36 countries and resulted in multiple publications that have directly impacted on patient care worldwide.

Genetic predisposition to Multiple Sclerosis mapped throughout immune system

There is an extensive overlap of immune cell types and genes 
associated with MS. Figure 1 from the group's paper

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common immune-mediated disorder, with 2.3 million people diagnosed worldwide. A detailed gene map of the illness takes us a step closer to understanding the mystery of how MS develops.

The cause of MS is still unknown, but some studies have indicated that the complex interaction between environmental factors and variations in genes may be what leads to MS risk or susceptibility.

Congratulations to CCS's NHMRC Investigator grant recipients!

L-R top row: Prof Helmut Butzkueven, Prof Paul Fitzgerald,
Dr Emma Halmos. L-R bottom row: Prof Anne Holland,
Dr Jason Ong, A/Prof Anneke van der Walt

NHMRC Investigator grants were announced this morning by Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, Monash receiving in total close to $47M. See Monash announcement.

Twenty-six researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences received funding for their projects. See Faculty story.

Congratulations to Central Clinical School's NHMRC Investigator grant recipients! See more about the CCS projects, below. The grant income for the school from this round totals $10M across the period 2021-2025.

Commiserations to our researchers whose grants were ranked very highly, but nonetheless missed out.

Monash academic in push for better global MS care

Prof Helmut Butzkueven

by Anne Crawford

A Monash University academic neurologist has joined forces with other global experts in multiple sclerosis (MS) research and treatment to create – for the first time – a consensus for measurable standards of MS care.

More research needed for treatment of primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Left, Anneke van der Walt; right, Helmut Butzkueven
at the annual "Kiss Goodbye to MS" awareness event

The MSBase Foundation is the largest international online registry in the world for neurologists studying multiple sclerosis and other neuro-immunological diseases. Central Clinical School's Professor Helmut Butzkueven is managing director of MSBase, and he and Associate Professor Anneke van der Walt, the Head of MS services at Alfred Health, recently co-authored a publication on a cohort study involving 1284 patients with primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS) from MSBase's large, international, observational database.

They found that therapies, effective for other forms of MS, have no substantial effect on short- to medium-term disability outcomes in PPMS.

Video of the week: Red Lab Coat Day 2018 - Kiss Goodbye to MS

 

Every year on 1 May 1 research groups throughout Australia participate in Red Lab Coat Day. The day aims to raise the profile of and funding for research on multiple sclerosis organized.

 

This year your CCS Neuroscience MS researchers have put together a hilarious video for the 'Kiss Goodbye to MS' campaign to raise awareness and funds. The video is part of the 'Battle of the Labs', and Helmut Butzkueven, Vilija Jokabaitis, Mastura Monif, Steven Petratos and Anneke van der Walt would love you to vote for it. They want to win the surprise prize!

 

Vote here: https://kissgoodbyetoms.org/red-lab-coat-day-2018/

Please share the link with all your family, friends and colleagues, ask them to ‘kiss’ (vote) for their favourite and post on your social media using the attached social tiles and the #KissGoodbyeToMS and #RedLabCoatDay hashtags.

 

See the video and the photo gallery here:

 

View CCS video: https://youtu.be/1Ezbx5CKjSA

Gallery: https://photos.app.goo.gl/on1sYn1XmtXp1jlD3

 

Congratulations to 2017 Data Innovation Award Winner, Professor Helmut Butzkueven

Prof Helmut Butzkueven receiving Research
Australia's Data Innovation award

Professor Helmut Butzkueven is joining the new Monash Department of Neurosciences. His work was recently recognised in  Research Australia's annual awards in the category of Data Innovation. Professor Butzkueven is an academic neurologist specialising in management of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and real-world MS outcomes research.  

See full story at:
researchaustralia.org/2017-data-innovation-award-winner-professor-helmut-butzkueven/