b'Medicine & ResearchSmall Actions, Small Actions, Big Advances Big Advances Shaping the future of MS care Shaping the future of MS care through clinical research.through clinical research.By Brad WillinghamClinicaltrialsareessentialformedicalside effects, and establish effective dosages. and scientific progress. For people withOnceinitialsafetyisestablished,thetrial multiple sclerosis, participating in a clinicalprogresses to Phase 2 and Phase 3. In these trial can provide an opportunity to contributephases, researchers assess the effect of the togroundbreakingdiscoveriesandtheintervention in larger and more diverse advancement of MS care. Clinical trials exploreparticipant groups. Finally, after the intervention topics such as testing new medications orhas shown to be safe and effective, the research developing rehabilitation strategies to improveenters Phase 4. This nal stage is designed to mobility, managing symptoms such as fatigue,monitor the long-term risks and benets of or addressing cognitive challenges. the treatment.Beyond contributing to science, participatingThe phased process of clinical trials ensures in research provides individuals with MS athat new therapies are evidence-based, behind-the-scenes look at the research processeffective, and safe. and a glimpse into the future of MS care.Your engagement mattersParticipants become part of the researchIt is important in clinical trials to include journey and help to create a future where MSdiverse participants who represent the people care is increasingly personalized, effective,affected by MS, especially groups that have and accessible. For these reasons and others,been historically underrepresented. If clinical people living with MS may want to participatetrials do not include diverse groups of participants, in research. However, getting involved innew treatments may not address the needs of research can often feel overwhelming, andthe many unique individuals affected by MS.manypeople withMSmaybeunsureof where to begin.To help promote diversity in clinical trials, What is a clinical trial? agencies such as the NIH have implemented Clinical trials, as dened by the Nationalnew initiatives to encourage the "inclusion of Institutes of Health, are research studieswomen and people from racial and ethnic involving human participants that evaluateminority groups in clinical trials." While these the effects of interventions on health-relatedinitiatives are helpful, achieving true diversity outcomes. in clinical research relies on participation from the community. Each individual with MS has All clinical trials follow a similar structurevaluable insights to offer, and by participating with specic phases. In Phase 1, researchersin clinical trials, everyone can help create new test a new intervention in small groups ofcare solutions that are relevant to everyone participants to assess its safety, observe anywith MS. msfocusmagazine.org 34'