Improving outcomes for people with MS through digital technologies

Summary

The health-related quality of life in people with MS is substantially lower than the general Australian population. The vision of this research is to harness digital health technologies with the aim of improving both clinical care and self-care for people with MS.

The researchers are developing a digital patient-centred health care system (called InforMS), an online intervention (called MS WorkSmart), and a symptom tracker app (called My SymptoMS). In addition, four new short specialist Massive Open Online Courses (called MOOCs), will be developed and delivered, including content on mental health, social isolation, healthy ageing, choosing disease modifying therapies and supporting and caring for someone living with MS. The study will also assess the impacts of these systems and courses on behaviour change, health outcomes and clinical care for people with MS.

Updated: 14 February, 2022

Stages of the research process

Fundamental laboratory
Research

Laboratory research that investigates scientific theories behind the possible causes, disease progression, ways to diagnose and better treat MS.

Lab to clinic timeline: 10+ years

Translational
Research

Research that builds on fundamental scientific research to develop new therapies, medical procedures or diagnostics and advances it closer to the clinic.

Lab to clinic timeline: 5+ years

Clinical Studies
and Clinical Trials

Clinical research is the culmination of fundamental and translational research turning those research discoveries into treatments and interventions for people with MS.

Lab to clinic timeline: 1-5 years