The Norwegian Multiple Sclerosis Registry and Biobank.

UNLABELLED

OBJEVTIVES: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system with unknown cause and without any curable treatment. Research aiming at defining the pathogenesis of the disease is therefore needed.

METHODS

The Norwegian Multiple Sclerosis Registry and Biobank has been established for systematic collection of clinical and epidemiological data as well as biological samples. Data collection is based on informed consent from the individual patients and recordings by the treating neurologists.

RESULTS

All researchers have, by application, access to data and biological samples from the Norwegian Multiple Sclerosis Registry and Biobank.

CONCLUSION

By this combined effort from both patients and health care personnel, the Registry and Biobank aims to facilitate research for improved understanding of disease mechanisms and improved health care in multiple sclerosis.