Innovative Trials to help fund research into multiple sclerosis through charity partnership

Innovative Trials, a UK-based clinical trials patient recruitment company, has today (Monday 6 June) announced its intention to help fund research into multiple sclerosis (MS) and contribute towards the MS Society's vision of a world free from the effects of MS.

The company, which works with some of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies to accelerate the development of life-changing treatments, has chosen the MS Society as its official 2022-23 charity partner and is aiming to raise at least £3,000 for the charity over the next 12 months. 

MS is a neurological condition that affects nerves in the body. More than 130,000 people in the UK are living with the condition and around 7,000 people are diagnosed every year [1]. MS is unpredictable and different for everyone, but common symptoms include vision and speech problems, fatigue, dizziness, muscle stiffness and spasms, difficulty swallowing and memory issues.

The MS Society invests in groundbreaking research to understand the causes of MS, improve services and care and develop effective treatments. This includes co-funding clinical trials such as the MS-STAT2 trial, which is investigating whether simvastatin can slow progression of secondary progressive MS. The charity also campaigns for change and provides information and support to people with MS.

Kate Shaw, Founder and CEO of Innovative Trials, said: “At Innovative Trials we’re committed to supporting charitable activity and proactively contributing to the development of better care and treatments for those who need them. MS affects many people and research is the key to unlocking new opportunities to live well through better management of the condition. Our staff overwhelmingly voted to support the MS Society's work this year and we’re looking forward to reaching, or hopefully smashing, our fundraising target for them.”

Activities planned by Innovative Trials’ fundraising committee so far include a summer raffle, bake-off competition, monthly salary sacrifice donations and a preloved item sale. The company’s senior leadership team has also pledged to match the amount of money raised by colleagues.

Dr Catherine Godbold, Research Communications Manager at the MS Society, says: “We’re delighted that Innovative Trials has chosen the MS Society as their charity partner this year. MS can be relentless, painful and disabling, and thousands of people with progressive forms of the condition are still without treatment options.

“But there is reason to be hopeful. We believe we can stop MS, and the funds raised by Innovative Trials will help us drive forward vital MS research. Their support will help bring us closer to our goal of finding treatments to stop or slow progression for everyone living with the condition.”

Innovative Trials is committed to supporting charitable causes and has previously raised thousands of pounds for Crohn’s and Colitis UK and Alzheimer’s Research UK. These fundraising efforts support Innovative Trials’ mission to enable all patients to have faster access to life-improving treatments.