Northern Ireland MS Research Hub Launches at Queen’s University Belfast

Pictured L-R: Dr Emma Gray, Director of Research at the MS Society; Caroline Millar from Ballyclare, a volunteer with MS Society and who is living with MS; Mr Stewart Finn, Country Director at the MS Society Northern Ireland; and Professor Denise Fitzgerald, Principal Investigator and researcher from the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast

A major new centre for multiple sclerosis (MS) research has been launched at Queen’s University Belfast, marking a significant step forward in Northern Ireland’s contribution to the global fight against the neurological condition.

The Northern Ireland MS Research Hub, unveiled this week, will serve as a focal point for large-scale, collaborative research into MS, uniting experts from across a range of disciplines.

The Hub is backed by the MS Society and Queen’s University Belfast, and will support pioneering work led by neurologists, immunologists, ophthalmologists and neuroscientists.

This landmark initiative has been made possible through a combination of funding sources, including a legacy gift from the late Professor Dame Ingrid Allen, a world-renowned MS researcher and pathologist based at Queen’s.

Dame Ingrid was celebrated globally for her groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of MS, and the Hub’s foundation seeks to honour and expand upon her legacy.

As well as injecting much-needed funds into MS research in Northern Ireland, the Hub will create opportunities for those interested in building a career in MS research. This will help to train and retain the current and future generations of researchers in Northern Ireland.

The launch of the Hub provides a transformative opportunity to deepen understanding of MS and accelerate the discovery of new treatments through collaborative science, and gives Northern Ireland a platform to play a central role in tackling one of the most common causes of disability in young adults.

Multiple sclerosis is a lifelong neurological condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, disrupting the flow of information within the nervous system. It can cause a wide range of symptoms, including problems with movement, vision, and cognition. While the exact cause remains unknown, MS is widely understood to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors that trigger an abnormal immune response.

In the UK, it is estimated that over 130,000 people live with MS, with around 7,000 new diagnoses each year. Northern Ireland has one of the highest prevalence rates of MS in the world. Despite its impact, there is still no cure, and treatment focuses on managing symptoms and slowing progression.

The establishment of the Hub marks the first time Northern Ireland has had a dedicated infrastructure to support a long-term, unified programme of MS research. People living with MS will be at the heart of the Hub, with the work shaped by their lived experiences. 

Dr Emma Gray, MS Society Director of Research, says:

“We're proud to be supporting the Northern Ireland MS Research Hub. The Hub will build capacity in MS research in Northern Ireland, bringing together researchers, doctors and the MS community to accelerate research and help stop MS.” 

Professor Denise Fitzgerald, Principal Investigator and researcher from the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast, added:

“This unprecedented opportunity to grow MS research in Northern Ireland is a team effort on all fronts – funders, researchers and people with MS all working together to tackle MS.

“We are leveraging Northern Ireland’s strengths in eye research and exciting innovations in healthcare and research to drive forward globally leading research to improve the lives of people affected by MS.”

Research at the Hub will build upon previous findings that show that in MS, the retina (the back of the eye) can become inflamed and lose nerve cells. The team will use cutting-edge technology to scan the retina in more detail than has ever been possible. This could provide faster, simpler ways to monitor how MS progresses, and how people with MS respond to treatments. 

By championing a ‘trial-embedded research’ approach, the researchers at the Hub will make sure promising discoveries are quickly translated from the lab to the clinic. For example, the team will invite participants from the MS Society’s Octopus trial to help test whether retinal imaging could be used as a tool to track how well potential new treatments are working in clinical trials. 

Stewart Finn, MS Society Northern Ireland Country Director, says:

“I'm delighted we're supporting this work. The Hub represents a major step forward for MS research, not only in Northern Ireland but globally. We're bringing together new knowledge, understanding and, ultimately, hope, and I'm so pleased our local MS community will play their part. This is a good news story for Northern Ireland and beyond, and one that we're hopeful will bring us one step closer to stopping MS.” 

The facility is expected to attract new investment, foster international collaboration, and offer vital training opportunities for early-career scientists. It will also enhance engagement with people living with MS, ensuring that patient voices remain at the heart of research efforts.