FutureMS Phase 2
The FutureMS-2 project - recruiting previous participants to continue their participation.
Condition(s)
- Multiple sclerosis
Project type
- Understanding the condition
About the project
FutureMS-2 is the second phase of a research project created in direct response to questions people with MS frequently ask their doctors.
Every person newly diagnosed wants to know how MS will affect them over their lifetime, what can be done to stop the disease progressing and improve their quality of life. The FutureMS project aims to help answer those questions.
In the first phase of the FutureMS project, we collected a huge amount of invaluable data from 440 participants newly diagnosed with MS across Scotland. Participants took part within 6 months of their diagnosis and then again 12 months later.
Phase 2
Multiple sclerosis is a long-term condition. Therefore to really understand the impact of MS at the level of the individual, we need to not only map what happened to someone at the point of their diagnosis, but also to follow up these same individuals over time. In the new phase of FutureMS, we are inviting participants to take part again at five and ten years after their diagnosis.
The study design of FutureMS Phase 2 was adapted to reflect the needs/interests of people with MS better. Based on this, the new wave of FutureMS has some new additions. Examples include more of a focus on invisible disability symptoms like pain and fatigue, and wider access to sub-studies at different sites.
All 5 recruitment sites are open for recruitment, they are Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness
The FutureMS project team is incredibly grateful to everyone who has, and will continue to, take part. Each participant in the FutureMS project is irreplaceable and our research team is looking forward to continuing the journey for many years to come.
Results so far
Our researchers are busy analysing the data on an ongoing basis, and writing up their findings as articles in scientific journals to benefit the worldwide MS research community.
We have prepared short summaries of all the findings to date: FutureMS scientific publications.
News
Watch our short festive message to FutureMS participants, which details upcoming plans for the study:
Phase 1 FutureMS
In phase 1, participants took part in clinical assessments that included completing questionnaires about their health and lifestyle as well as measurements of physical abilities (for example, walking speed) and cognitive - thinking and learning - skills (for example, tests of arithmetic). The participants also underwent a brain scan, and donated a blood sample for DNA analysis.
What do I need to do?
If you were a participant in the first phase of the FutureMS project, you don't need to do anything. The team will contact you to discuss phase 2 and whether you would like to continue helping this study.
If you were not a participant in the first phase, we regret that you won't be able to join this study. We are following up the cohort of 440 people so that we can build up a large amount of data from these individuals over time.
Related links
Funder(s)
Publication(s)
Status
Contact
Eligibility criteria
Restricted recruitment of previous FutureMS participants only.