A tool to help decide when to stop multiple sclerosis treatments
Official title: A Decision Support Tool for the Discontinuation of Disease Modifying Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Foundation · NIH-10893467 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a helpful tool for doctors and patients with multiple sclerosis to figure out the best time to stop using certain treatments, considering the risks and costs involved as patients get older and their condition changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $142,027 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HS029219-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10893467 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults with multiple sclerosis who have been on disease-modifying therapies for an extended period.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis or those who have not yet started disease-modifying therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a decision support tool to assist healthcare providers and patients in determining the appropriate time to discontinue disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS). The tool will take into account the risks associated with long-term DMT use, such as infections and financial burdens, especially as patients age and their disease progresses. By analyzing existing observational studies, the research aims to identify safe discontinuation points for DMTs, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing unnecessary healthcare costs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could help patients with multiple sclerosis make informed decisions about stopping treatments that may no longer be beneficial, reducing risks and costs.
How similar studies have gone: There is a growing body of observational research suggesting that discontinuing DMTs can be safe for certain patients, indicating that this approach has been explored with some success.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcginley, Marisa — Cleveland Clinic Foundation
- Study coordinator: Mcginley, Marisa
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.