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Multiple Sclerosis

Every patient’s journey with multiple sclerosis is different. 

Multiple sclerosis, a disease of the brain and spinal cord, can be difficult to diagnose and symptoms may range from body weakness to vision difficulty. Many times, patients may be evaluated for a range of other conditions, before MS is finally determined to be the root cause of their symptoms. 

USF Health offers a comprehensive MS Center, where experts in central nervous systems inflammatory diseases have the expertise to properly diagnosis and manage all facets of MS. 

As an academic medical center – where doctors have the training to treat the most complex cases – our neurologists can offer patients the latest research advancements in the field of MS, as well as other central nervous system diseases, such as optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.

Designated as a National MS Society Center for Comprehensive Care in 2012, USF Health’s MS Center focuses on the early diagnosis and management of MS symptoms, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and other CNS inflammatory and demyelinating diseases. Early detection of MS is essential to managing patient symptoms and enabling the highest quality of life.  

Our nationally recognized Center provides a multi-disciplinary approach to patient care. Neurologists, mental health care providers, rehabilitation and social services provide integrated care and have a strong collaborative relationship with the National MS Society.  We provide patients with MS immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive therapies, as well as conduct studies of new, emerging therapies for early and late phases of this disease.   

Our program offers state-of the-art diagnostic imaging studies and comprehensive subspecialty care for patients including:

  • Advanced MRI
  • Urology
  • Neuro-ophthalmology
  • Physical and occupational therapy
  • Speech therapy
  • Neuropsychological evaluation and management

We provide these treatment options for patients with MS:

  • Lumbar puncture 
  • Evoked potential tests
  • Corticosteroids
  • Plasma exchange (Plasmapheresis)
  • Drug therapy

Clinical Trials 

The ARISE clinical trial is evaluating the safety and efficacy of an investigational drug to determine its effects on daytime sleepiness, tiredness, fatigue, and routine functioning in people with Idiopathic Hypersomnia and Narcolepsy without cataplexy.

For more information on this study please visit the website at: http://www.arisestudies.com/index.html

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

The purpose of the clinical trial CHORDS is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the investigational drug Ocrelizumab in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis who have had a suboptimal response to an adequate course of disease-modifying treatments.

For more information on this study please visit the website at: http://www.gene.com/media/press-releases/14609/2015-10-08/genentechs-ocrelizumab-first-investigati

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

This clinical trial is a prospective 24 month observational study to evaluate neurocognitive function and safety in patient with relapsing MS who are initiating LEMTRADA treatment in routine clinical practice.

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378 To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

This study is collecting information in safety and documenting the drug utilization of Tecfidera (Dimethyl Fumarate) when used in routine medical practice in the treatment of MS.

For more information on this study please visit the website at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02047097

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

This clinical trial is a treatment duration study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Siponimod (BAF312) in patients with secondary progressive MS.

For more information on this study please visit the website at: www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-announces-positive-phase-iii-results-showing-efficacy-baf312-patients

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

This is a group study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ocrelizumab in comparison to interferon Beta-1A (Rebif) in patients with relapsing MS.

For more information on this study please visit the website at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01412333

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378



Parallel group study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ocrelizumab in comparison to interferon Beta-1A (Rebif) in patients with relapsing MS.

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

This is a long-term follow-up study for MS patients who have completed the alemtuzumab Extension Study (CAMMS03409).

For more information on this study please visit the website at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02167945 

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

This is a phase IIIb, study to evaluate the effects of Orcelizumab on immune responses in patients with relapsing forms of MS.

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

Open label study to evaluate safety and effectiveness of ocrelizumab in progressive forms of MS.  https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01412333

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

Phase 2 study, to evaluate efficacy and safety of BIIB033 as add-on therapy to anti-disease-modifying therapies.  To evaluate the effects of BIIB033 versus placebo on disability improvement over 72 weeks and to evaluate the effects of BIIB033 versus placebo on additional measures of disability improvement.

For more information please visit the website at:  https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03222973

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

Testing safety and efficacy of MD1003 in progressive multiple sclerosis.  The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the superiority of MD1003 over placebo in the disability of patients suffering from progressive multiple sclerosis and especially those with gait impairment.

For more information please visit the website:  https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02936037 

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

This randomized, parallel group, double-blind, placebo controlled study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab in participants with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Eligible participants will be randomized 2 : 1 to receive either ocrelizumab or placebo. The blinded treatment period will be at least 120 weeks, followed by an Open Label Extension (OLE) treatment for participants in both groups who in the opinion of the investigator could benefit from further or newly initiated ocrelizumab treatment. Unless terminated early, all participants will continue their treatment with open-label ocrelizumab until the last participant who entered the OLE phase reaches 4 years of open-label ocrelizumab treatment.

For more information please visit the website at:  https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01194570 

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

Double masked, placebo controlled study with open label period to evaluate and compare the efficacy of MEDI-551 versus placebo in reducing the risk of an NMO/NMOSD attack in subjects with NMO/NMOSD.

For more information please visit the website at:  https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02200770 

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

Double blind, placebo controlled study to assess efficacy and safety of HP Acthar gel in RRMS.

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

Prospective, post authorization safety study to evaluate long term safety profile of Lemtrada 

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

Study for RRMS/PPMS patients switching therapy, to assess relationship between cognitive function and brain atrophy.

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378

Phase 3, study of treatment effects of ublituximab in MS.

To enroll in this study at USF please contact Angela Aungst at (813)974-6378