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Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroinflammation Center

The UCSF Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroinflammation Center is one of California's premier programs for evaluating, diagnosing and treating adult and pediatric patients with inflammatory diseases of the nervous system. Our knowledge and expertise in caring for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is recognized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, which has designated us a comprehensive care center and a Partner in MS Care.

Our team includes renowned experts in neurology, neuro-ophthalmology, neuropsychology, infectious disease and rehabilitative medicine. They work closely with one another – as well as with specialists in other fields, like urology, gastroenterology, and rheumatology – to provide personalized, comprehensive care for patients with any type of neuroinflammatory disease. The state-of-the-art tools and services of our Neurodiagnostic Center allow us to evaluate patients' conditions in great detail and use our findings to design the best treatment plan for each person.

Our goal is to help patients manage their symptoms and stay as active, healthy and independent as possible. The team also serves as a resource for education and emotional support for patients and their families. Telemedicine follow-up visits are available for those who find them more convenient.

Our research

In addition to delivering the best possible patient care, we're committed to advancing medical understanding of the causes of neuroinflammatory disease and to looking for potential cures. UCSF is a top recipient of research funding from the National Institutes of Health and National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Our center's doctors are on the forefront of research into the causes of MS and new ways to treat it. Dr. Stephen Hauser, director of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, was awarded the prestigious John Dystel Prize in 2008 for his pioneering studies on genetic susceptibility to MS. Other doctors on our team helped develop breakthrough therapies, such as the drug ocrelizumab, a treatment for progressive MS approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017.

Many of our doctors also lead studies at the UCSF Center for Encephalitis & Meningitis, which is focused on developing better testing and treatments for encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord).

Thanks to our robust research program, our patients often have opportunities to take part in clinical trials, studies to evaluate promising therapies.

Learn more about clinical trials and how they work.

Valet parking

Valet parking is available at the Campus Way entrance. If you have a DMV-issued Disabled Person parking placard, notify the parking attendant during check-in to receive a discounted rate.

Visit our Campus Life Services website for more information on parking and transportation.

Our locations

Expand Map

    Decorative Caduceus

    VIRtual Versus UsuAL In-office Care for Multiple Sclerosis (VIRTUAL-MS)

    The primary outcome will be disability worsening in one of the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite components at 24 months. Worsening is defined as 20% worsening in Timed 25 foot walking speed (T25FW), 20% worsening in the 9 h...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Assessing Changes in Multi-parametric MRI in Patients With Acute Demyelinating Lesions Taking C...

    The efficacy of clemastine relative to placebo at increasing the myelin water fraction (MWF) (measured in %) from magnetic resonance imaging of the corpus callosum.

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Emgality for Migraine in Breastmilk

    Levels of galcanezumab (μg/mL) in the breastmilk of women at the selected timepoints before and after each treatment (24H pre, 24H post, 7D post, 28D post). For the third treatment, only 7D post will be collected. This outcome wil...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Multiple Sclerosis Falls Insight Track

    This will be measured by calculating the percentage of patients who use the tool during the initial month of the study, and by the percentage of patient-clinical dyads who use the tool during the clinical visit

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Traditional Versus Early Aggressive Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis Trial

    Time to sustained disability progression is measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale plus (EDSS+): a composite endpoint that includes EDSS change (change at any 6 month time point of > 1.0 point if baseline EDSS is < 5.5 o...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Assessing Changes in Multi-parametric MRI in MS Patients Taking Clemastine Fumarate as a Myelin...

    The efficacy of clemastine relative to placebo at increasing the myelin water fraction (MWF) (measured in %) from magnetic resonance imaging of the corpus callosum.

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    A Closed Loop, Doctor to Patient, Mobile Application for Depression in People With Multiple Scl...

    Clinician screening of depression as documented in the electronic health record (EHR)

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Neuroprotection With N-acetyl Cysteine for Patients With Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

    Number of adverse events recorded by system, severity, and by relationship to treatment arm.

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Bazedoxifene Acetate as a Remyelinating Agent in Multiple Sclerosis

    The primary objective is to evaluate the efficacy of BZA relative to placebo for reducing P100 latencies on full field transient pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (VEPs). In response to a visual stimulus, cortically genera...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Assessment of Clemastine Fumarate as a Remyelinating Agent in Acute Optic Neuritis (ReCOVER)

    To evaluate the efficacy of clemastine relative to placebo for reducing P100 latencies on full field transient pattern reversal visual evoked potentials. Measure will be reported as difference in P100 latency from baseline to 9 mo...

    Recruiting

    Awards & recognition

    • usnews-neurology

      Among the top hospitals in the nation

    • usnews-neurology

      Best in California and No. 2 in the nation for neurology & neurosurgery

    Support services

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    Patient Resource

    Case Management & Social Work

    Connect with a team that can help you find resources, solve problems and advocate for you during treatment at UCSF.

    Class

    Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Class

    This eight-week class teaches mindfulness practices that can reduce stress and improve your overall health, such as meditation and body awareness.

    Support Group

    Neurology Support Groups

    Find support for caregivers, families and patients dealing with aneurysm and AVM disorders, Parkinson's, MS and other neurological disorders.

    Patient Resource

    Patient Relations

    We welcome feedback about your experience at UCSF Health. Find out how to contact us with comments, questions or concerns.

    Patient Resource

    Spiritual Care Services

    Chaplains representing many faiths are available around the clock to provide support, comfort and counsel to patients, families and caregivers.

    Preparing for your appointment

    What to Bring

    • Photo I.D.
    • Health insurance card
    • Insurance authorization, if required
    • Doctor's referral, if required
    • Recent test results related to your condition
    • List of your medications, including dosages, plus any you're allergic to
    • List of questions you may have
    • Device or paper for taking notes

    International Services

    If you live outside the United States and are coming to UCSF for medical treatment, our patient liaisons can help coordinate all aspects of your visit.

    Learn more

    Interpreting Services

    UCSF offers interpreters in various languages, including American Sign Language (ASL), as well as services for deaf, hard-of-hearing and visually impaired patients.

    Learn more

    Hospital Stays

    Make your hospital stay as smooth and comfortable as possible by finding out how to prepare and what to expect.

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    Your Doctor Visit

    See our top 10 tips for making your UCSF doctor’s appointment as stress-free and productive as possible.

    Learn more

    Our research initiatives

    • UCSF-Multiple-Sclerosis-Center-Research-2x

      UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center Research

      The UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center's research program investigates potential new treatments and works to improve understanding of the disease, including the effects of genes, the environment and the immune system.

    • UCSF Center for Encephalitis Meningitis

      The UCSF Center for Encephalitis & Meningitis team has experts in the many conditions that can cause encephalitis and meningitis. Our research focuses on developing better diagnostic tests to improve care for patients with these illnesses.

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    (888) 689-8273

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