New funding for spinal cord imaging research study
Jan 2025: Congratulations to Dr Rozanna Meijboom and colleagues from the MS imaging group, who have recently been awarded funding for a research study to examine changes in the spinal cord of people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
MS damages the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, which, over time, can lead to difficulties with movement and daily activities. This progresses differently for each person and unfortunately, we cannot yet predict how severe an individual's MS will become. To better understand MS and enable people to plan for the future, we need ways to better measure nerve damage. MRI scans of the brain and spinal cord can help with this.
While MS affects both the brain and spinal cord, however, most research has focused on nerve damage in the brain. We know less about how MS damages the spinal cord, even though this is closely linked to the difficulties people living with MS may experience. Additionally, most research so far has looked at the upper part of the spinal cord only, and focused on people living with MS for many years.
Now, Dr Meijboom and colleagues have been awarded funding by the MS Society to undertake a pilot (preliminary) study called CORD-MS. In this research, the team will test new and standard MRI scans along the full length of the spinal cord, in people who have recently been diagnosed with MS. The study team will start recruiting participants later this year, looking for people who were diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in the last six months.
CORD-MS will yield important initial information on spinal cord changes and will help prepare for a larger study on how MS affects the spinal cord early on in the condition.
Related links
More information on the CORD-MS project page
Dr Rozanna Meijboom works in the MS Imaging Group led by Professor Adam Waldman. The research group is part of the Anne Rowling Clinic and the MS Society Edinburgh Centre for MS Research (University of Edinburgh website).