Clinical trials are studies to determine if a treatment is safe and effective for MS. These studies can offer people with MS an opportunity to actively participate in the effort to mobilize people and resources to drive research for a cure - but these studies must be conducted carefully to ensure the validity of the results. Here we provide resources for participating in studies, the latest news/results, and information about clinical research funded by the National MS Society. There are currently a variety of research studies being conducted in our chapter area.
Individuals who are interested in participating in a clinical trial are encouraged to discuss the possibility with their personal physician.
Are you a researcher who needs help with recruiting?
Research Programs Recruiting Subjects in Washington
Below is a listing of other clinical trials that we are aware of that are recruiting subjects in our community:
- Take Charge Study, Seattle
- inMotion Exercise Research Study
- Duloxetine
- MS Center of Excellence, VA Puget Sound
- Diclofenac Sodium Topical Gel- Voltaren Gel
- Dalfampridine ER (DER)
- 205MS301 Decide
Surveys and Other Research Studies
The National MS Society is committed to delivering accurate and reliable information to everyone affected by MS, and subsequently reviews many requests for participation in MS surveys. Following is a list of surveys (mostly online) and other research studies seeking to recruit people with multiple sclerosis that has been reviewed by the Society and offered as information only, not an endorsement or recommendation. The surveys/studies are being conducted either by investigators seeking to answer scientific or health policy questions about MS, or by pharmaceutical or medical device companies conducting market research efforts to develop or improve products for people with MS. For further details about each survey/study, as well as contact information, please click here.
Take Charge Study
| Recruitment Period | April 15, 2011 through October 2013 |
| Location of Study/Trial | University of Washington, participants located nationwide |
| Recruiting |
|
| Principal Investigator | Dawn Ehde, PhD, Principal Investigator, Dept of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington |
| Contacts |
Take Charge Study University of Washington 206-221-5642 1-888-634-6778 (toll-free) Email: msrrtc@uw.edu Box 356490 Seattle, WA 98198 |
| Sponsor and/or funding | National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) |
Description of Trial/Study
We are interested in learning if self-management treatments can be effectively delivered by telephone to persons with an MS diagnosis. We are also interested in comparing two different approaches to self-management delivered by phone.
The purpose of this study is to see if these treatments, when delivered by telephone, can help reduce pain, depressed mood, or fatigue in persons with MS. We also want to determine if these treatments can help reduce the negative consequences that these problems often causes in terms of a person’s mood, daily activities, and enjoyment of life.
inMotion Exercise Research Study
| Recruitment Period | Ongoing |
| Location of Study/Trial | Recruiting nationwide. Study is based at the University of Washington, Seattle. |
| Recruiting |
Participants 45 years old or over, currently engaging in less than 2.5 hours per week of physical activity, and feeling down or depressed. All types of MS are being studied. |
| Principal Investigator |
Charles Bombardier, PhD |
| Contacts |
Toll-free 1-866-928-2114 or email agerrtc@uw.edu |
| Sponsor and/or funding |
Department of Education, NIDRR grant number H133B080024 |
Description of Study/Trial
This study compares two approaches to helping people become more physically active. The study is carried out entirely by telephone. There is no need to travel and participants may reside anywhere within the United States. We will examine the effects of the intervention on overall physical activity, mood, pain, fatigue and general health.
Duloxetine
| Recruitment Period | The trial lasts approximately 10 weeks and requires 3 clinic visits; 50% of the participants receive active medication and 50% receive placebo. Study medication and procedures are supplied free of charge. Now open to enrollment without a set closing date. |
| Location of Study/Trial |
MS Center at Evergreen Healthcare 12039 Ne 128th St Ste 300 Kirkland, WA 98034 |
| Recruiting |
|
| Principal Investigator | Theodore Brown, MD (Physiatry) |
| Contacts | If you are interested in learning more about this study, please contact Carey Gonzales, MS Center at Evergreen, 425-899-5374 |
| Sponsor and/or funding | Lilly, USA, LLC |
Description of Study/Trial
The MS Center at Evergreen is enrolling individuals into a clinical trial of an investigational pain medication, Duloxetine. In this research study, we will investigate whether Duloxetine is effective and safe to treat people with MS related pain. 50% of the participants will receive active study medication and 50% will receive a placebo.
MS Center of Excellence, VA Puget Sound - Cognition Study
The VA is currently recruiting veteran and non-veteran patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (relapsing remitting or secondary progressive types only) for a cognition study. We are evaluating the effectiveness of an herbal supplement, Ginkgo bilboa, on cognitive impairment.
We are looking for people between 18-60 years old who are native English speakers, have not used Ginkgo bilboa for the past 30 days, and who have no significant medical problems. You cannot have had a MS relapse within 6 months of entering the program. Participants will need to be willing to come to the Seattle VA three times for assessments during the 6 months of the study.
For further information, please contact Jim Hunziker, ARNP, Study Coordinator at 206-277-5519, or 1-800-329-8387 x65519.
Diclofenac Sodium Topical Gel- Voltaren Gel
| Recruitment Period | A 4 week study. Now open to enrollment without a set closing date. |
| Location of Study/Trial |
MS Center at Evergreen Healthcare 12039 Ne 128th St Ste 300 Kirkland, WA 98034 |
| Recruiting |
Stable patients with clinically definite MS, age 18 over and experiencing some injection-site reactions to Copaxone. |
| Principal Investigator | Theodore Brown, MD (Physiatry) |
| Contacts | If you are interested in learning more about this study, please contact Carey Gonzales, MS Center at Evergreen, 425-899-5374 |
| Sponsor and/or funding |
Sponsor: Theodore Brown, MD, MPH Funder: Teva Neuroscience |
Description of Study/Trial
This is a crossover study with 1:1 randomization to either arm, each with two treatment phases of 2 weeks duration (active-placebo or placebo-active) Primary objective is to assess the effect of Diclofenac Sodium Topical Gel (DSTG) on injection site reaction following self-administered Copaxone in people with Multiple Sclerosis.
A randomized controlled double-blind cross-over trial of Dalfampridine ER (DER) for effect on ambulatory activity in people with multiple sclerosis
| Recruitment Period | This is a 10 week study post-randomization. Now open to enrollment without a set closing date. |
| Location of Study/Trial |
MS Center at Evergreen Healthcare 12039 Ne 128th St Ste 300 Kirkland, WA 98034 |
| Recruiting |
Patients with confirmed diagnosis of MS and MS-related. Limited capacity for physical activity defined by screening 6-meter timed walk in the range of 50-505m. Clinic is looking for 43 subjects. |
| Principal Investigator | Theodore Brown, MD (Physiatry) |
| Contacts | Please contact Shalom Kilcup at 425-899-5369 for more information. |
| Sponsor and/or funding | Biogen Idec |
Description of Study/Trial
This is a parallel-group, double- blind 1:1 randomized controlled cross-over trial. There are two treatment periods of 4 weeks with two-week washout period. Treatment periods are DER followed by placebo (group A) and placebo followed by DER (group B); Objective is to assess the effect of DER on intensity of ambulatory activity in a community-based cohort of people with MS-related walking limitation.
205MS301 Decide
| Recruitment Period | Subjects will participate in this study for at least 96 weeks but no more than 144 weeks. |
| Location of Study/Trial |
MS Center at Evergreen Healthcare 12039 Ne 128th St Ste 300 Kirkland, WA 98034 |
| Recruiting |
Around 1, 500 participants who are between the ages of 18 and 55 are planned to be enrolled in this study at approximately 280 study sites. Confirmed diagnosis of Relapsing Remitting MS. |
| Principal Investigator | Lahar Mehta, MD (Neurology) |
| Contacts | Please contact Shalom Kilcup at 425-899-5369 for more information. |
| Sponsor and/or funding | Biogen Idec |
Description of Study/Trial
A double-blind, randomized, active-control, parallel-group, monotherapy study. The main purpose of the study is to see if DAC HYP is more effective in helping people with MS than Avonex, an approved treatment for MS. Additionally, this study will (a) see if DAC HYP causes participants’ bodies to develop antibody biomarkers. Testing biomarkers can help evaluated how well and safely the study drug may work in MS.