Multiple Sclerosis Research

The University of Maryland Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research maintains an active basic science and clinical research program funded by multiple sources, including:

• The National Institutes of Health
• The Department of Veterans Affairs
• The National Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Several pharmaceutical companies

Learn more about actively enrolling clinical studies and clinical trials for multiple sclerosis.

Your support is needed to keep MS research team at the University of Maryland working on groundbreaking discoveries. We thank you for your support!

Faculty Research Activities

Daniel Harrison, MD

Daniel Harrison, MD, directs an active research program focused on the development and validation of new techniques for imaging of the brain and spinal cord for application to multiple sclerosis research and clinical trials. Dr. Harrison's research program is currently focused on utilization of novel MRI techniques, including ultra-high field, 7-tesla MRI for visualization of cortical pathology, neurodegeneration, and meningeal inflammation in multiple sclerosis.

Dr. Harrison's research program is funded through grants from the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and by industry sponsors. Dr. Harrison is also an active investigator in the University of Maryland Center for MS clinical trials program.

Learn more about the UM Multiple Sclerosis Neuroimaging and Biomarker Research Group

Horea Rus, MD

Horea Rus, MD, directs a study on understanding the role of oligodendrocyte cell death in the development of the multiple sclerosis. Together with his colleagues, Dr. Rus has discovered that several of the complement proteins traditionally thought to contribute only to the destructive processes of MS may also aid in the prevention of oligodendrocyte death, and thus may help heal damage caused by the disease.

More recently, his lab has discovered a new biomarker for MS disease activity and response to therapy called Response Gene to Complement-32 (RGC-32). Dr. Rus conducts studies funded by the National Institutes of Health, MS Society and Veterans Administration.

David Benavides, MD, PhD

David Benavides, MD, PhD, directs a translational research program focused on the effects of the immune system on brain cell function in autoimmune encephalitis. Dr. Benavides's research takes advantage of cutting-edge live cell microscopy and animal models to investigate the effects of antibodies on neuronal cell biology.

Current projects are focused on antibody-mediated forms of autoimmune encephalitis that target cell surface and synaptic proteins, including anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. These studies are funded by University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Learn more about the Benavides Laboratory.