The Rocky Mountain MS Center at the University of Colorado is home to one of the largest MS research programs in the world. This unique partnership has created a world-class center. The RMMSC at CU leads the way in MS research by building the body of knowledge about MS and developing new and effective treatments.
It is commonly believed that MS is a two phase disease: an inflammatory disease resulting in demyelination at onset, and later in the disease course, an inflammatory, independent neurodegenerative stage. An alternative view of MS is that MS is a one phase disease and all pathology is driven by inflammatory attacks on the Central Nervous System (CNS). Our physicians at the RMMSC support the latter belief and argue that neurodegeneration is a direct consequence of inflammation; implying that the rate of brain volume loss is greatest at the onset of MS and will decline with older age. Their view is that brain volume loss in MS should decline as the inflammatory attack on the CNS wanes. With the success and growth of the research program at RMMSC at University of Colorado, the physicians continue to blaze their own path forward as they have done for over 30 years.
“Our knowledge on how to use available disease modifying therapies (DMT’s) has improved dramatically in recent years and with the optimal uses of personalized medications, we can support our MS patients for life by preserving their brain health,” explains Dr. Timothy Vollmer, Co-Director of RMMSC at University of Colorado and Medical Director for RMMSC.
The Rocky Mountain MS Center at University of Colorado serves more than 3,000 patients annually and participates in over 40 clinical trials. Our physicians and scientists play a leading role in the development including projects related to new drugs/treatments, brain imaging, patient-reported outcomes, longitudinal repositories, adherence, quality improvement, and rehabilitation.
The MS group is the leading group for clinical research in the 5th largest department on the Anschutz Medical Campus. Though they are engaged in several clinical studies, they are extremely selective on each project to take on with their patient’s best interests in mind. “We are interested in projects that will have a major, positive effect on our patients with the possibility to improve their quality of life,” says Dr. John Corboy, Co-Director of the RMMSC at University of Colorado.
The National Consortium of MS Centers designated the RMMSC at University of Colorado a Center of Excellence in 2008, and the Pediatric Program at the RMMSC was designated as 1 of only 12 pediatric centers nationwide in Spring 2015. This comprehensive program has allowed the University of Colorado to be one of the premier organizations in the world, and they will keep blazing the path forward until there is a cure.
A summary of the research projects currently underway, along with the names of the Primary Investigator (PI) and professional research assistant (PRA) on the research study can be found here: http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/medicalschool/departments/neurology/clinicaltrials/Pages/Neuroimmunology-Clinical-Trials.aspx
If you are interested in participating in any of the studies open to enrollment, the contact information is listed on that web page as well.