Title: Effective neuropsychological interventions in MS: A preliminary Scoping Review.

Location: School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork

Supervisors: Dr Fiadhnait O’Keeffe and Dr Sineád Hynes

Project type: scoping review; data synthesis; reporting and disseminating.

Suitable for students studying the following subjects: Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Medicine, Other HSCPs

Project description: MS is a progressive neurological condition, with an average age of onset between 20 and 40 years. It is a leading cause of disability in young adults (MSIF 2020). Cognitive difficulties, including information processing, attention, learning and memory, working memory and visuospatial abilities are experienced by up to 70% of people with MS (Fischer et al, 2014; Benedict et al., 2020) and are reported as the most debilitating and distressing MS symptom (Dorning et al, 2013). These cognitive difficulties can in turn have a significant impact on individuals’ well-being, relationships, employment and quality of life (Mitchell et al, 2005). Emerging evidence of positive impact of neuropsychological interventions on cognitive symptoms of MS is encouraging (Rayegani et al, 2024; Mitolo et al, 2015; Lincoln et al, 2015; Taylor et al, 2021) but concerns regarding the quality of evidence, heterogeneity of interventions and measures used have been raised (Rayegani et al, 2024). What cognitive interventions are effective to improve cognition in MS was identified as a Top 10 Research priority for people with MS (JLA, 2013).

This project aims to comprehensively summarize the existing literature adopting a scoping review methodology to begin to answer some of the following questions:

• Are, and if so, in what way, neuropsychological interventions effective in improving cognition in MS?

• What key factors associated with effective neuropsychological interventions in MS can be identified?

• Synthesize the evidence of effective neuropsychological interventions and factors associated with positive outcomes.

Key Outputs:

– Learning outcomes: The AIMS-RN Fellow will be supported by the supervisors in developing key research skills, specifically in the design and implementation of a scoping review. This will play a role in training future MS researchers.

– MS-specific outcomes: The proposed project will contribute to summarizing the existing literature around effective interventions for cognitive difficulties in MS. This will be helpful for people with MS and healthcare professionals supporting those with MS.

Please note the following:

• Project 1 can be carried out either on a full-time (6 weeks) or half-time (12 weeks) basis.

• Interviews for Project 1 will take place on Thursday 10th April 2025.

Title: Exploring patient perspectives of research and translational studies in Northern Ireland.

Location: Belfast Health and Social Care Trust / Queen’s University Belfast

Supervisors: Dr Rachael Kee, Dr Stella Hughes, Dr Michelle Naughton

Project type: data collection; statistical analysis; microscopy & immunohistochemistry

Suitable for students studying the following subjects: Medicine, Biomedical Sciences

Project description:

This project will be based at the Belfast City Hospital (BCH) MS clinic and Prof. Denise Fitzgerald’s MS research group in Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). The BCH is a hub site for the OCTOPUS clinical trial, the world’s first multi-arm multi-stage trial for progressive MS. We are also involved in international patient registry studies such as MS BASE and CONSENTOR. In collaboration with scientific researchers in QUB, we are involved in exciting translational studies investigating retinal inflammation in MS, and how this may correlate with disease severity.

Patients are central to any research initiative, and it is important to understand what research means to patients and the relevance of our research studies for them. We are involved in research studies from bench to bedside, and so this project will provide opportunities to capture this research journey. This project will involve a questionnaire study to firstly explore patient perspectives of MS clinical and lab-based research (supervised by Dr Kee and Dr Hughes), to help us to better understand patient’s attitudes towards research. The student will also have an opportunity to gain insights into the different MS research initiatives being delivered, OCTOPUS clinical trial and observational (patient registry) studies. Supervised by Dr Naughton, the student will also have an opportunity to undertake basic laboratory research, such as microscopy and histological analysis, within a project investigating compartmentalized inflammation in post-mortem eye tissue from patients with MS.

Please note the following:

• The date for interviews for Project 2 has not yet been finalised but candidates will be informed as soon as short-listing takes place.