ACTRIMS 2022 | Validating biomarkers in MS for clinical practice – a large prospective cohort

Pascal Sati, PhD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, talks about translating the recent discoveries concerning MS biomarkers from high-end screening laboratories to routine clinical protocols in standard hospitals. Dr Sati emphasizes the need to implement this technology in the clinical realm – making it compatible with imaging workflow and radiologist workflow, so that neurologists can get information the same way it can be obtained in research labs. As an ongoing work effort at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, close partnerships have been made with the likes of imaging companies; the idea being to share knowledge so they can implement it within a normal commercial setting, their available software, and clinically available scanners. Meanwhile, large cohort prospective studies are still required to further validate the data from independent and retrospective studies. With funding from the NIH, data for the CAVS-MS study (NCT04495556) is being collated – aimed at validating the sequence developed by Dr Sati, the central vein sign (CVS), and paramagnetic rim lesions (PRL) which are currently being studied in a large prospective cohort. There are 400 patients currently enrolling, and the study is approximately at its halfway point – with the goal being to compare the biomarkers against the 2017 McDonald criteria and provide evidence to help incorporate them into the new MS diagnosis criteria. This interview took place at the ACRTRIMS Forum 2022 in West Palm Beach, Florida.