Health economics is concerned with maximising quality of life through the effective use of healthcare resources. Health economists provide evidence that contributes greatly to MS advocacy and government funding decisions. Therefore, health economics is an essential component of MS research.
Dr Glen Henson and his team aim to use health economics to enhance our understanding of the impacts of MS on quality of life. They will use existing world-class MS databases to:
The team will also work on improving current health economics methods, by encouraging a more patient-centred approach to MS health economics, examining new tools for measuring quality of life, and developing benchmarks to assist MS researchers in interpreting health economics data.
The project is still in its early stages, but important groundwork has been completed to establish access to Australian and international MS datasets. These datasets will be essential for the planned health economics analyses, which aim to better understand the impacts of MS and inform future treatment and policy decisions.
In relation to COVID-19, Dr Henson has made substantial progress using data from the Australian Multiple Sclerosis Longitudinal Study to examine long COVID among people living with MS and changes in disease-modifying therapy use during the pandemic. Analysis of the data has been completed, and a manuscript is being prepared for publication.
As part of this project, Dr Henson has also contributed to the MS Prevalence and Health Economic Impact in Australia 2025 report, which provides updated evidence on the number of Australians living with MS, the financial burden of MS, and its impacts on quality of life and employment. The report highlights the need for greater investment in early MS detection, prevention, and improved treatments. These efforts could help slow the progression of MS, reduce the costs associated with the condition, and improve quality of life for people living with MS. This work has already contributed to MS Australia’s advocacy, including its pre-budget submission to the Australian Government.
Over the next year, Dr Henson will focus on analysing health economics data from Australian and international MS databases to better understand how MS affects quality of life.
Updated 31 March 2026Â
$225,000
2025
3 years
Current project
