Biomarkers in Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Cohort (SMSC) and large studies
The Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Cohort (SMSC) is a comprehensive, longitudinal study designed to collect clinical, imaging, and biomarker data from people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) across Switzerland. Its primary goals are to enhance our understanding of MS and to develop diagnostic and therapeutic tools that can be seamlessly integrated into clinical care for MS patients. SMSC cohort is one of the world's largest clinical MS research databases, with over 1900 patients prospectively recruited and a median follow-up time of 6.5 years, encompassing more than 14,000 documented visits. The SMSC consortium (comprised of eight Swiss MS centers, five university hospitals, and three cantonal hospitals) developed significant expertise in standardizing and integrating high-quality clinical data. Over 10,000 brain MRI scans have been acquired and evaluated following a pre-defined standard protocol and standard operating procedures across all centers. The SMSC has banked over 330,000 samples (covering 95% of all visits), including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum, plasma, and whole blood. SMSC website
The ThINk group focuses on advancing the understanding of neurodegeneration and repair mechanisms in MS through cutting-edge imaging techniques and clinical research. Below are some of our key research areas, aimed at improving diagnosis, monitoring disease progression, and evaluating treatment effects in MS:
- Determinants of Brain Atrophy in Multiple Sclerosis
- Treatment effects of Brain Atrophy and Lesion changes in Multiple Sclerosis
- Brain Repair in Multiple Sclerosis: location and clinical correlates
- Diagnostic value of CVS and cortical lesions for MS diagnosis (MAGNIMS)
- Spinal cord Atrophy as prognostic tool in Multiple Sclerosis
Selected scientific publications
From: Association of Brain Atrophy With Disease Progression Independent of Relapse Activity in Patients With Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis read
Differences in Rates of Regional Cortical Thinning Comparing Stable Patients vs Patients With Only Progression Independent of Relapse Activity (PIRA) or Patients With Only Relapse Activity. The effect size, expressed as mean difference in annual percentage cortical thickness change (MD-APC), is graphically displayed in different shades of blue for each of the Desikan-Killiany atlas regions presenting significant differences between groups after correction for multiple comparisons.
From: Association of Spinal Cord Atrophy and Brain Paramagnetic Rim Lesions With Progression Independent of Relapse Activity in People With MS read
Examples of PRLs in 2 Patients of the Cohort. (A and C) Unwrapped-phase images and (B and D) quantitative susceptibility mapping images. PRLs are indicated by the arrows. PRL = paramagnetic rim lesion.
- PD Dr Katrin Parmar
- Dr Athina Papadopoulou
- PD Dr Regina Schläger
- PD Dr Özgür Yaldizli
- Prof Dr Cristina Granziera
The Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Cohort-Study (SMSC): A Prospective Swiss Wide Investigation of Key Phases in Disease Evolution and New Treatment Options
Disanto G, Benkert P, Lorscheider J, Mueller S, Vehoff J, Zecca C, Ramseier S, Achtnichts L, Findling O, Nedeltchev K, Radue EW, Sprenger T, Stippich C, Derfuss T, Louvion JF, Kamm CP, Mattle HP, Lotter C, Du Pasquier R, Schluep M, Pot C, Lalive PH, Yaldizli Ö, Gobbi C, Kappos L, Kuhle J; SMSC Scientific Board.
PLoS One. 2016 Mar 31;11(3):e0152347. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152347. eCollection 2016. read
Association of Brain Atrophy With Disease Progression Independent of Relapse Activity in Patients With Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis
Cagol A, Schaedelin S, Barakovic M, Benkert P, Todea RA, Rahmanzadeh R, Galbusera R, Lu PJ, Weigel M, Melie-Garcia L, Ruberte E, Siebenborn N, Battaglini M, Radue EW, Yaldizli Ö, Oechtering J, Sinnecker T, Lorscheider J, Fischer-Barnicol B, Müller S, Achtnichts L, Vehoff J, Disanto G, Findling O, Chan A, Salmen A, Pot C, Bridel C, Zecca C, Derfuss T, Lieb JM, Remonda L, Wagner F, Vargas MI, Du Pasquier R, Lalive PH, Pravatà E, Weber J, Cattin PC, Gobbi C, Leppert D, Kappos L, Kuhle J, Granziera C.
JAMA Neurol. 2022 Jul 1;79(7):682-692. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.1025. read
A Multicenter Longitudinal MRI Study Assessing LeMan-PV Software Accuracy in the Detection of White Matter Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Todea AR, Melie-Garcia L, Barakovic M, Cagol A, Rahmanzadeh R, Galbusera R, Lu PJ, Weigel M, Ruberte E, Radue EW, Schaedelin S, Benkert P, Oezguer Y, Sinnecker T, Müller S, Achtnichts L, Vehoff J, Disanto G, Findling O, Chan A, Salmen A, Pot C, Lalive P, Bridel C, Zecca C, Derfuss T, Remonda L, Wagner F, Vargas M, Du Pasquier R, Pravata E, Weber J, Gobbi C, Leppert D, Wuerfel J, Kober T, Marechal B, Corredor-Jerez R, Psychogios M, Lieb J, Kappos L, Cuadra MB, Kuhle J, Granziera C; Swiss MS Cohort Study.
J Magn Reson Imaging. 2023 Sep;58(3):864-876. doi: 10.1002/jmri.28618. Epub 2023 Jan 28. read
Serum Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Compared With Neurofilament Light Chain as a Biomarker for Disease Progression in Multiple Sclerosis
Meier S, Willemse EAJ, Schaedelin S, Oechtering J, Lorscheider J, Melie-Garcia L, Cagol A, Barakovic M, Galbusera R, Subramaniam S, Barro C, Abdelhak A, Thebault S, Achtnichts L, Lalive P, Müller S, Pot C, Salmen A, Disanto G, Zecca C, D'Souza M, Orleth A, Khalil M, Buchmann A, Du Pasquier R, Yaldizli Ö, Derfuss T, Berger K, Hermesdorf M, Wiendl H, Piehl F, Battaglini M, Fischer U, Kappos L, Gobbi C, Granziera C, Bridel C, Leppert D, Maleska Maceski A, Benkert P, Kuhle J.
JAMA Neurol. 2023 Mar 1;80(3):287-297. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.5250. read
Longitudinal assessment of cervical spinal cord compartments in multiple sclerosis
Tsagkas C, Huck-Horvath A, Cagol A, Haas T, Amann M, Barakovic M, Ruberte E, Melie-Garcia L, Weigel M, Pezold S, Schlaeger R, Kuhle J, Sprenger T, Kappos L, Bieri O, Cattin P, Granziera C, Parmar K.
Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2023 Mar;71:104545. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104545. Epub 2023 Feb 3. read
Association of Spinal Cord Atrophy and Brain Paramagnetic Rim Lesions With Progression Independent of Relapse Activity in People With MS
Cagol A, Benkert P, Melie-Garcia L, Schaedelin SA, Leber S, Tsagkas C, Barakovic M, Galbusera R, Lu PJ, Weigel M, Ruberte E, Radue EW, Yaldizli Ö, Oechtering J, Lorscheider J, D'Souza M, Fischer-Barnicol B, Müller S, Achtnichts L, Vehoff J, Disanto G, Findling O, Chan A, Salmen A, Pot C, Bridel C, Zecca C, Derfuss T, Lieb JM, Remonda L, Wagner F, Vargas MI, Du Pasquier RA, Lalive PH, Pravatà E, Weber J, Cattin PC, Absinta M, Gobbi C, Leppert D, Kappos L, Kuhle J, Granziera C.
Neurology. 2024 Jan 9;102(1):e207768. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207768. Epub 2023 Dec 13. read
Contrast-Enhancing Lesion Segmentation in Multiple Sclerosis: A Deep Learning Approach Validated in a Multicentric Cohort
Greselin M, Lu PJ, Melie-Garcia L, Ocampo-Pineda M, Galbusera R, Cagol A, Weigel M, de Oliveira Siebenborn N, Ruberte E, Benkert P, Müller S, Finkener S, Vehoff J, Disanto G, Findling O, Chan A, Salmen A, Pot C, Bridel C, Zecca C, Derfuss T, Lieb JM, Diepers M, Wagner F, Vargas MI, Pasquier RD, Lalive PH, Pravatà E, Weber J, Gobbi C, Leppert D, Kim OC, Cattin PC, Hoepner R, Roth P, Kappos L, Kuhle J, Granziera C.
Bioengineering (Basel). 2024 Aug 22;11(8):858. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering11080858. read