News, blogs and articles

  • We wrote a paper showing that non-genetic risk factors for MS like smoking and obesity during early adulthood are important across all ethnic backgrounds.
  • We wrote a paper looking at how well genetic risk scores can predict MS in a cohort of people from South Asian ancestral backgrounds. You can read the paper here and watch the explainer video here
  • We wrote a blog about the study - have a read here. 
  • We took part in a webinar hosted by AsianMS. Watch it here
  • We've teamed up with the UK MS Register. If you're already taking part in their study, you can sign up for ours via your account. Find our more here
  • The team wrote a perspective article for Nature Reviews Neurology about the diversity problem in MS genetics, and why we need to address it. Read it here
  • Michelle from the steering group and Ben wrote a blog for the MS Trust. Read it here
  • Roxy from the steering group did an Instagram Live about the study with Ben. Watch it here.
  • Ben wrote a blog for the MS Blog. Read it here.
  • Ben spoke to the MSguide.com about the study. Watch it here.
  • Ben did an interview with Roxy Murray from the 'Sick and Sickening' podcast - you can watch it here and read the transcript here
  • The MS Society has written a nice summary of the project here.
  • Ruth and Ben wrote a piece about ethnicity and MS for the 'Advances in Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation' journal - you can read it here.  
  • Stay up-to-date by following us on twitter and signing up for our newsletter.
WHO ARE WE?
Ben Jacobs
Ben Jacobs
Ben is a neurology registrar and an MRC-funded PhD student. He is running the ADAMS study. His main research interest is understanding how genetics and environmental factors influence why people get MS.
Ruth Dobson
Ruth Dobson
Ruth is a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the Preventive Neurology Unit, QMUL and a Consultant Neurologist at Barts Health NHS Trust. One of her research interests is in the factors that influence pathways to MS development, with particular reference to those that can potentially be modified. She is a co-chief investigator on the study.
Rashmi Kaimal
Rashmi Kaimal
Rashmi is part of the ADAMS study steering group. She is Indian and was diagnosed with MS in 1997. She is contributing to the overall running of the project and is interested in sharing her experience of living with MS.
Roxy Murray
Roxy Murray
Roxy is an MS and disability advocate. She is part of the ADAMS study steering group. She hosts a disability and MS-focussed podcast with a worldwide following. She is helping to co-ordinate the way we talk about the study, communicate results, and engage with the MS community.
Michelle Lowe
Michelle Lowe
Michelle is part of the ADAMS study steering group. She was diagnosed with MS in 2019 and is a mum to two young boys who keep her on her toes! She is a researcher with an interest in ensuring equity of access to mainstream genomic services so is keen to help make sure communication about the ADAMS study is inclusive to people from diverse backgrounds who are living with MS.
Sadid Hoque
Sadid Hoque
Sadid is a medical student at Bart’s and The London and is part of the ADAMS study steering group. He was diagnosed with MS at 16. He is passionate about sharing his experiences, especially as a medical student with MS.
Huw Morris
Huw Morris
Huw is Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at UCL Institute of Neurology, and Honorary Consultant Neurologist at the Royal Free Hospital and the National Hospital, Queen Square. He works on Neurogenetics, Movement disorders and dementia through the analysis of families and clinical cohorts. He is a co-chief investigator on the study.
Alastair Noyce
Alastair Noyce
Alastair is a Reader in Neurology and Neuroepidemiology and a Consultant Neurologist at Barts Health NHS Trust. His main research interests are the early identification, and environmental and genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s disease. He is co-principal investigator at QMUL on the PREDICT-PD study. Away from work, he enjoys spending time with his family, as well as running and skiing.
Eli Silber
Eli Silber
Eli is a neurology consultant at Kings' College Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he is clinical lead. He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Kings College London and an MS specialist.
Anneesa Amjad
Anneesa Amjad
Annee works in the research team at the MS Society and is helping to run the Steering Group for the project. The Steering Group are supporting the ADAMS researchers to design, run and share the study, ensuring it is relevant and meaningful to people affected by MS from diverse backgrounds.
Gavin Giovannoni
Gavin Giovannoni
Gavin is a Professor of Neurology at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London. As co-director of the Preventive Neurology Unit, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, one of his current research interests is preventing MS.

What is the ADAMS study?

We are doing a study to understand how genes cause Multiple Sclerosis in people from different ancestral backgrounds. If you would like to participate, we will ask for three things from you:

  1. A questionnaire asking some questions about you, your MS diagnosis, and your ancestry
  2. A saliva kit for genetic testing – we will send this through in the post, you spit in it and send it back. We will extract the genetic material (DNA) and process this in our lab
  3. Access to your medical records so we can look up details of how and when you were diagnosed with MS, what treatments you’ve had, and how your MS has affected you over time.

You can participate in the study from home – the questionnaire is online (everything is done via the website). We will analyse your DNA to understand whether the effect of DNA changes on the risk of MS is different depending on your ancestral background.

All of your information will be secure and stored in accordance with privacy and data security regulations. We will not share any information with commercial third-parties. We will share non-identifiable information with other researchers to help promote progress in MS research worldwide.

If you are interested in finding out more about this study then please have a look around the website or contact the research team by email

WHO FUNDS US?