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Designing Clinical Trials to Test Neuroprotective Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis

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Myelin Repair and Neuroprotection in Multiple Sclerosis

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Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the commonest cause of acquired neurological disability in young adults. It is a multi-focal and multi-phasic immune-mediated disorder characterised pathologically by inflammatory demyelination, axonal injury and partial remyelination (Compston and Coles 2008). Treatments for MS thus have two aims: to prevent and to repair damage that has already occurred. Although important advances in treatment to reduce relapse rate have been made in the last two decades, more limited progress has been achieved in terms of definitive treatments for relapses and the slowing, cessation or reversal of disease progression (see Chap. 10). The lack of such therapies represents a substantial gap in the treatment of MS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrookes Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SP, UK

    P. Connick & A. Compston

  2. NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, The Institute of Neurology (Queen Square), University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK

    M. Kolappan

  3. Centre for Neuroregeneration, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor’s Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK

    S. Chandran

Authors
  1. P. Connick
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  2. M. Kolappan
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  3. A. Compston
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  4. S. Chandran
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Connick .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School Veterinary Medicine, Dept. Medical Sciences, University of Wisconsin Madison, Linden Drive West 2015, Madison, 53706-1102, Wisconsin, USA

    Ian D. Duncan

  2. Wellcome Trust and MRC Cambridge Stem Ce, and Department of Veterinary Medicine, University Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, United Kingdom

    Robin J M Franklin

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Connick, P., Kolappan, M., Compston, A., Chandran, S. (2013). Designing Clinical Trials to Test Neuroprotective Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis. In: Duncan, I., Franklin, R. (eds) Myelin Repair and Neuroprotection in Multiple Sclerosis. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2218-1_11

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