Using medical records to find the best treatment for MS
Leveraging electronic health records to optimize treatment selection and response in multiple sclerosis
Researchers will use electronic health records to help doctors choose which multiple sclerosis medicines are most likely to work for each person with MS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11245785 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze long-term clinical data from two academic health systems and linked insurance claims to compare outcomes on different MS disease-modifying therapies. They will link those records to MS research registries to confirm diagnoses and treatment responses. The team will build and test predictive models that use routine clinical data to forecast relapse risk and treatment response. The goal is to create tools that clinicians could use at the point of care to personalize treatment decisions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a diagnosed multiple sclerosis whose care appears in the participating academic health systems' electronic health records or in the linked commercial insurance datasets are the ideal candidates for this research.
Not a fit: People without accessible electronic health records in the participating systems, those outside the covered insurance populations, or those with very rare MS subtypes underrepresented in the data may not benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help people with MS get more effective medicines sooner and avoid ineffective treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Real-world and registry studies have previously compared MS therapies, but using EHR-driven predictive tools at the point of care is still a relatively new and emerging approach.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xia, Zongqi — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Xia, Zongqi
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 below.