Advances in MS research that every patient should know 

Upcoming clinical trials are among new efforts to improve how we measure MS progression and manage difficult symptoms 

May 29, 2025
By Sophie Lorenzo

“As physicians, we now have a range of treatments that are highly effective at controlling early MS disease biology and stopping relapses,” explained Adil Harroud, MD, an MS neurologist and researcher, and one of the principal investigators for MS clinical trials at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital). “The majority of patients diagnosed today will live without new attacks or new lesions on their brain or spinal cord. That is very different from a patient’s experience just a decade ago.”

Thanks to The Neuro’s unique dual mandate as a research institute and a hospital, clinician-scientists like Harroud wear two hats: seeing patients in clinic, while also conducting basic research with their team in a lab and ensuring that the most promising research developments are accessible to patients in clinical trials.

The Neuro operates Canada’s oldest clinic devoted to MS. Back in 1986, Dr. Gordon Francis led the first clinical trials at The Neuro so that his patients with MS could have access to promising novel therapies. These trials led to the first clinically approved medications for MS, improving the lives of individuals who previously faced debilitating progression.

The Clinical Research Unit at The Neuro now runs 100 trials a year across all areas of neurology, including the most promising trials for MS.

Keeping an eye on progression

The advent of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been transformative for MS care. By allowing physicians to visualize the brain and spinal cord, and by revealing areas of damage, MRIs can confirm an MS diagnosis, track disease progression, and assess the effectiveness of treatments.

“That said, MRIs have their limitations. Some patients may tell us that their memory or their gait is worsening, yet we don’t see a change on their clinical scans. We need new tools to measure progression more accurately,” continued Harroud.

To that end, a trial starting at Clinical Research Unit at The Neuro (Neuro CRU) is studying whether an approved eye-tracking technology can better follow MS disease progression by measuring changes in eye movements using a special app on an iPad. If successful, this simple assessment could provide a complimentary evaluation of changes in brain health, in clinic or even at home. This would mean that physicians could monitor individuals more closely and optimize care more effectively, switching treatments if needed.

Managing difficult symptoms

Individuals living with MS also have a range of symptoms that need to be addressed in parallel. “One particularly bothersome manifestation of MS is called spasticity — muscle stiffness and involuntary spasms. It often makes it difficult for people to move or walk and it can even be painful. It can also be very difficult to treat,” said Harroud.

A new clinical trial at the Neuro CRU will study whether a drug that leverages naturally occurring neurotransmitters in the body could help manage spasticity. These neurotransmitters interact with cannabinoid receptors in the brain, much like the compounds found in cannabis, and play a role in pain control and relaxation. The hope is that this potential therapy could be a new tool in our arsenal to improve quality of life for individuals with MS.

What’s on the horizon

A new focus of research hopes to completely transform the course of MS. There is an increasing emphasis on identifying MS early, potentially before the first symptoms. New research aims to identify the elements that contribute to the risks of developing MS and also to define new biomarkers (measurable changes) that allow us to identify very early disease.

“Like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, we now know that multiple sclerosis can be detected years before symptoms appear. What sets MS apart is that we already have treatments that could help if we intervene early. By identifying those at risk and treating them at an early stage, we may be able to delay the onset or possibly prevent the disease altogether. That would be transformative for people who would otherwise go on to develop MS — and we couldn’t even have contemplated that a few years ago,” concluded Harroud.

For more information or to participate, contact the MSTeam of the Clinical Research Unit at The Neuro: ms-cru.neuro@mcgill.ca; (514) 398-5500; cru.mcgill.ca/ms.