Can changing the intestinal bacteria be an effective, safe and tolerable way to slow the inflammatory process involved in multiple sclerosis? The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, the Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center at Griffin Hospital, and Yale University are teaming up to help address this question as part of a pilot investigational study.  

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease. Some studies have found that an imbalance of intestinal bacteria can lead to inflammation in the immune system. This study will provide oral capsules with fecal material (“poop”) from healthy donors to people with MS to see whether it leads to changes in their intestinal bacteria, and whether this could slow the inflammatory process involved in MS. 

The study team, led by neurologist Dr. Joseph Guarnaccia, is recruiting people who are 18 to 40 years old and have been diagnosed with MS. They must be able to visit Griffin Hospital eight times over four months. 

Those who complete the study will receive $800. The capsules, procedures and tests are free of charge. The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health is funding this study. The study information is as follows: A Pilot Study of Oral FMT (Fecal Microbial Transplant) in Subjects with Multiple Sclerosis, Griffin Hospital IRB # 2018-09, Principal Investigator Joseph Guarnaccia, MD.

 For more information, and to take part in this study at Griffin Hospital in Derby, call 203-732-1265, ext. 220 for Sue or ext. 300 for Rockiy. See ad, page 16.