MS sufferer urges others to engage in landmark study

Andrea O’Mahony, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis just before her 23rd birthday, is urging anyone with any form of MS to engage in a landmark study that could potentially unlock the mystery of the genetic and lifestyle factors behind the disease.

Lead by life sciences company Genomics Medicine Ireland Ltd (GMI), it’s the most comprehensive genomic study of MS ever undertaken on the island of Ireland.

Andrea’s neurologist at Cork University Hospital (CUH), Brian Sweeney, said the project is seeking to recruit 6,000 people with MS on the island, whose DNA will be analysed, with a view to identifying the genetic markers that can help diagnose, predict disease severity, and identify personalised treatments for patients.