Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Trials
Opportunities are available for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis to participate in several new clinical trials at the University of Maryland Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research.
These studies are either currently enrolling or will be enrolling shortly.
The studies vary in design, duration, criteria for eligibility, number of MRI scans and other details. The following is a very brief summary of each study. You may obtain further information by calling Kerry Naunton, R.N., 410-328-5605 at the MS Center.
Clinical trial opportunities are constantly changing. Please keep in touch if you are interested in trials.
Current Clinical Trials
FENTREPID
The FENTREPID trial is for patients who have been diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. They will receive fenebrutinib or ocrelizumab. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects, good or bad, of fenebrutinib versus ocrelizumab on patients with PPMS. In this study, you will get fenebrutinib (or placebo) and ocrelizumab (or placebo).
- Investigator: Horea Rus, MD
- Eligibility: 18-65 year old, diagnosed with primary progressive MS, history of progression over the course of your disease and able to walk either independently or assisted.
EVOLUTION RMS 1
A Phase III, Multicenter, Randomized, Parallel Group, Double Blind, Double Dummy, Active Controlled Study of Evobrutinib Compared with Teriflunomide, in Participants with Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety
The EVOLUTION RMS 1 trial is for patients who have been diagnosed with relapsing or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. They will receive evobrutinib or teriflunomide. Evobrutinib is a medication that inhibits activation of B cells in your immune system and is taken by mouth twice per day. This is a 2 year trial where participants will be receiving either evobrutinib and a placebo for teriflunimide or a placebo for evobrutinib and teriflunomide.
- Investigator: Daniel Harrison, MD
- Eligibility: 18-55 year old, diagnosed with relapsing MS or secondary progressive MS, history of 1 relapse in the past year or active lesions on MRI, and able to walk unassisted
CHIMES
An open-label, multicenter study to assess disease activity and biomarkers of neuronal damage in minority patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis receiving treatment with ocrelizumab.
The CHIMES trial is for patients who have been diagnosed with relapsing multiple sclerosis and self identify as African American or Hispanic American. They will receive ocrelizumab. Ocrelizumab is a medication that is approved for use in MS. This is a 2 year trial that will be studying the effects of ocrelizumab in minorities.
- Investigator: Daniel Harrison, MD
- Eligibility: 18-65 year old, diagnosed with relapsing MS, self identify as African American or Hispanic American, primary physician independently made the decision to treat with ocrelizumab, and able to walk unassisted
High field MRI for visualization of cortical pathology, meningeal inflammation, and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis
- Application No: HP-00079860
- Principal Investigator: Daniel Harrison
- For more information please contact Daniel Harrison at 410-328-4682 or dharrison@som.umaryland.edu
This research is investigating the use of high-field (7-tesla) MRI in visualizing multiple sclerosis-related damage to the gray matter of the brain, degeneration of nerves, and inflammation in the protective tissues around the brain.
Volunteers should be age 18 – 65 and have a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. A cohort of healthy volunteers (without MS), ages 18 – 65 are also invited to participate. A cohort of participants with other inflammatory conditions of the central nervous system (such as neurosarcoidosis, neuromyelitis optica, autoimmune encephalitis, CNS vasculitis) are also invited to participate.
Participants in the MS cohort will undergo MRIs of the brain, OCT scans, bloodwork and disability and cognitive testing.
Participants in the healthy volunteer and other inflammatory condition cohorts will undergo MRIs of the brain, bloodwork, and disability and cognitive testing.
North American Registry for Care and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (NARCRMS)
- Application No: HP-00079149
NARCRMS is a database intended to collect longitudinal physician-reported and clinical information from people with multiple sclerosis (MS) over a long period of time and will bring together information and data collected in multiple registries and databases across the U.S. and Canada. We expect that these data, when carefully studied, will be able to:
- Produce new clues to the causes of MS
- Significantly enhance the ability of physicians, other clinicians and patients to manage symptoms of MS; and
- Potentially affect the progression of the disorder, and perhaps lead to the eventual reduction or eradication of MS.
Subjects are invited to participate in this research study because they have MS. Following your course of MS will help us to better understand this disease in its entirety.
This study will last over 5 years and will include at least 1,000 participants from 20 MS Centers across the U.S. and Canada.
To take part in this study you must be between 18 and 65 years old, been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and be willing to contribute data on an on-going basis.
Participants in this study will have an annual visit which will include collection of your multiple sclerosis history, a detailed neurologic exam and a brief battery of tests of memory and attention.
Pilot study of meningeal inflammation on 7T MRI as a tool for measuring and predicting ocrelizumab response in multiple sclerosis
Learn more about this study: NCT03396822
Adaptive Optics Retinal Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis
Adaptive Optics Retinal Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis
This research is investigating the use of adaptive optics (AO) retinal imaging to assess how the eye is involved and affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). We are searching for healthy volunteers without MS. Volunteers should be age 21 or older and have no history of MS or eye disease
You will undergo an initial eye exam and then a retinal imaging session. You will be reimbursed for your time as well as any associated parking expenses.
