Investigating the causes and disease development in MS – developing new therapies

Multiple sclerosis, often described as the disease with a thousand faces due to its multitude of symptoms, is one of the most common neurological disorders in young adults. It is still incurable. Fundamental knowledge of the causes of the disease and its development is thus essential, but at the same time, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches must be further developed. The joint research of the competence network provides the best prerequisites for this; through nationwide research collaboration of leading MS experts, it also has improved its international profile.

Now in its third funding period, the KKNMS continues to explore the cause of MS in five consortiums, each with a different focus: infrastructure, cohorts and trials, prognostic and treatment markers, determinants of MS phenotypes and modeling.

The aims of the third funding period are:

  • To better understand the pathogenesis of MS by improving the exchange of information between basic and clinical research. The goal here is to develop specific MS therapies.
  • To identify biomarkers which could simplify the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MS and provide better prognostic measures. To identify response markers and potential risk factors in the immunotherapies of MS, and thus establish individualized therapy for MS patients.
  • To provide a better understanding of the genetic factors involved in the development and disease course of MS. Genetic variants which have an influence on single disease parameters will be identified and validated.
  • To improve research instruments: development of new models with which the disease can be experimentally investigated.