Reflections on Research from Our CEO
I am sending festive greetings to one and all, hoping your celebrations have brought you joy and a little light during these dark winter days.
Here at the MSA Trust, we are feeling hopeful for the year ahead and look back on the past year with gratitude for the amazing support from the MSA community. In the field of research, there are exciting prospects for significant advances in our knowledge and understanding of MSA.
We have seen a great increase in research activity and look forward to the possibility of several phase three trials starting next year. We have been pleased to read about the positive results from phase two trials, which have given drug companies greater confidence to move their therapies into phase three. We are also encouraged that they recognise the importance of understanding MSA and the wide range of issues this disease can cause.
As a result, companies have asked whether people would be willing to take part in surveys, and I apologise if there has been a slight overload of these. The team at the MSA Trust does not want anyone to miss an opportunity to share their thoughts with those developing treatments for their condition. A small warning, therefore: there may be more to come, such as the recent surveys uploaded to our website from companies we have worked with previously — Living with MSA: Low Blood Pressure Symptom Survey; ExPRESS Study; Help Inform Future MSA Research; and others:
https://www.msatrust.org.uk/cause-and-cure/get-involved-in-research/open-msa-studies/
We always try to ensure that questionnaires are only from companies we are working with, and please remember that you are under no obligation to complete any of them — although sometimes a small payment is offered for taking part.
Do look out next year for our research webinars, where your thoughts and discussions on the topics presented are vital in helping researchers continue their work.
This year, we have been especially grateful to the Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) for their support and advice as the Myra Morris Research Fellow began at UCL and as our latest call for research projects opened on 1 September. We will be sharing plenty of updates throughout the year.
As always, we aim to include full details of all research-related activity on our website, so please check back regularly in the research section. We hope you will find plenty of information to spark discussion.
With best wishes for the rest of the holiday season, and peace and happiness in the year ahead.
–Karen Walker, CEO
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the blogs published on these pages are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the MSA Trust.
