Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that damages the central nervous system (CNS) and disrupts communication to and from the brain by attacking the myelin sheath surrounding neurons. It impairs control of bodily functions and leads to clinical disability as the disease progresses. The worldwide population is estimated at 2.5 million. MS typically develops in young adults; primarily women in their early 30s. The etiology of MS is not fully understood, but it is noted that the prevalence of MS differs with geography and ethnicity.
Biomarker signature panels are important tools for monitoring treatment response and screening for individuals who are unlikely to benefit from certain therapies. To establish a baseline and further characterize gene expression in MS, blood samples from individuals with MS will be collected. A rapid blood test to predict a treatment response would be an innovative diagnostic product that could aid in identifying individuals that may benefit from the targeted therapy. In the long term, such a test could bring significant clinical benefits by enabling individualized treatment to better control the disease, unburdening healthcare costs, and dramatically improving the management of MS.
In order to analyze gene expression data from individuals diagnosed with MS, the study will collect blood samples and information from up to 1500 subjects for analysis.
