CanProCo: Canadian Prospective Cohort Study to Understand Progression in Multiple Sclerosis

Spanning multiple disciplines, this five-year project is a collaborative study combining the efforts of nearly 50 leading MS researchers from across Canada. It is the first project of its kind in Canada aiming to better understand progression in MS and why some people progress in their disease while others do not. The team of researchers will try to pinpoint triggers leading to progression and establish methods of managing them while measuring the impact of MS on individuals, as well as the Canadian healthcare system. Bringing together several fields of study is a powerful way to assess different aspects of progression in MS leading to: a better understanding of the biological mechanisms of progression, identification of risk factors for progression, development of biomarkers to monitor progression and predict treatment response, and inform strategies to improve the lives of people living with MS. Long-term monitoring of MS progression also enables researchers to create a centralized and open source of data that may be relevant for other neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington’s due to the potential for common disease mechanisms.