Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders Research Registry

STUDY BASICS

Are you an adult with multiple sclerosis (MS) or a related disorder who is seeking treatment or already being treated at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology? You may be able to take part in a research Registry, which is a list of individuals interested in having their medical information included in research studies and being contacted about future research studies.

STUDY PURPOSE

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that affects over 400,000 people in North America and over 7,000 people in Western Pennsylvania. MS has no known cause and no cure, although there are medications that can help with the symptoms and course of the disease. Much progress in MS and other diseases has been made from research registries that collect and analyze the medical record information of patients with a certain disease or condition. The purpose of the MS and Related Disorders Research Registry is to allow researchers to review and study medical records of many individuals with the same condition to answer questions about your disease and its treatment, and to help researchers identify and recruit people who may be able to participate in future research studies.

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?

• Age 18 and up
• Seeking treatment or already being treated at the University of Pittsburgh Physicians Department of Neurology for multiple sclerosis or a related disorder

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

Participants will allow medical record information to be placed in the Registry. Participants will also be asked to provide their permission to allow Registry staff to contact them about research studies. Interested Registry participants contacted for possible participation in research studies will undergo a separate informed consent process for each research study they join.