Innovative Trials, MS Society UK Collaborate on MS Research
Innovative Trials has selected the MS Society UK as its charity partner for the next year, and intends to raise at least £3,000 (about $3,600) to support multiple sclerosis (MS) research and the society’s quest for a world without MS.
Innovative Trials works with pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations to ensure clinical trial participants are enrolled in a timely manner and understand what the study entails. The ultimate goal is to accelerate development of life-changing therapies and patients’ access to them.
The patient recruitment company, which has raised funds for nonprofit organizations Crohn’s and Colitis UK and Alzheimer’s Research UK, chose the MS Society UK as its 2022–2023 partner. The MS Society invests in groundbreaking studies to understand the causes of MS, improve care and services, and develop better treatments.
The neurodegenerative condition affects more than 130,000 U.K. residents, with about 7,000 individuals diagnosed each year.
“At Innovative Trials, we’re committed to supporting charitable activity and proactively contributing to the development of better care and treatments for those who need them,” Kate Shaw, Innovative Trials’ founder and CEO, said in a press release.
“MS affects many people and research is the key to unlocking new opportunities to live well through better management of the condition. Our staff voted to support the MS Society’s work this year and we’re looking forward to reaching, or hopefully smashing, our fundraising target for them,” added Shaw.
To reach its fundraising goal, Innovative Trials has several activities planned, including a raffle, bake-off competition, and a sale of preowned items. In addition, the company’s senior leaders have pledged to match the total raised.
“We’re delighted that Innovative Trials has chosen the MS Society as their charity partner this year,” Catherine Godbold, PhD, research communications manager at the MS Society, said.
“MS can be relentless, painful, and disabling, and thousands of people with the condition are still without treatment options. But there is reason to be hopeful,” Godbold said. “We believe we can stop MS, and the funds raised by Innovative Trials will help us drive forward vital MS research. Their support will help bring us closer to our goal of finding treatments to stop or slow progression for everyone living with the condition.”
The organization invests in clinical trials, including the ongoing MS-STAT2 (NCT03387670) study, which is assessing whether the cholesterol-lowering medication simvastatin can slow disability progression in secondary progressive MS. The trial, which is sponsored by University College London, is the largest progressive MS study not run by a commercial company. Trial results are expected in 2025.
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