Butzkueven Group

Multiple Sclerosis Outcomes Research

Get in touch | Our work |Our people | Our achievements | Publications

Our group studies outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis to better understand the disease and improve healthcare. We use clinical data collected in our Alfred Health multiple sclerosis neuroimmunology (MSNI) clinics, and other international registries, including the MSBase Registry. We are interested in the use of registry data, clinical MRI data, cognitive testing, genomics and patient self-monitoring devices and applications to evaluate treatment strategies to optimise the benefit and safety of MS therapies.

Global MS diagnostic criteria update set to accelerate diagnosis and timely care

A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is expected to take less time now, thanks to updated global criteria published in The Lancet Neurology, with key leadership from Monash University researchers.

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Our work

Multiple sclerosis (also referred to as MS) is a chronic autoimmune neurological disease affecting over 30,000 people in Australia. Most patients will require lifelong treatment to minimise the disease’s progression.

We are focused on the following areas of MS research -

  • Optimise treatment and clinical outcomes for patients (improve healthcare)
  • Clinical trials
  • Big data
  • Genetic variations (MS risk)

We want to provide a more comprehensive picture that adds value to clinical practice and to people with MS managing their disease, for example individual risk-benefit models and long-term safety of disease-modifying drugs. We provide evidence for clinicians to use to guide the treatment of their patients.

MSBase

We utilise real-world patient data from the Alfred Health MS Neuroimmunology clinics, the international MSBase registry and the Big Multiple Sclerosis Data Network. We collaborate closely with the Melbourne Brain Centre, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, and Sydney Neuroimaging Analysis Centre (SNAC).

We apply sophisticated statistical approaches to analyse big data, ultimately improve clinical practice and quality of life for patients with MS. Our team leverages a large, active collaborator network in Australia and internationally to fill crucial data gaps in MS care.

Our people

Group Leader

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Butzkueven group
Butzkueven Group. L-R: Back row - Chao Zhu, Josh, Linda Sim, Anneke van der Walt, Pamela Farr, Helmut Butzkueven (Group Leader), Dusko Stupar. Front row - Cynthia Tang, Carolyn Tran, Alison Li, Charlotte Sartori, Rein More

Get in touch

Whether you want to be involved in our research, you wish to study with us, you want to collaborate with us or donate to our work, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Email us – helmut.butzkueven@monash.edu

A list of our current projects in SupervisorConnect.

Our achievements

Awards

Prof Helmut Butzkueven

  • MS Australia 50-year anniversary President’s medal (2022)
  • The Bethlehem Griffith Research Foundation Award
  • The Australian Museum and University of NSW Eureka Prize
  • Research Australia Health and Medical Research Data Innovation Award (2017)

Grants

Prof Helmut Butzkueven

  • Investigator grant (NHMRC) 2021 – 2025

Dr Wei Yeh

  • ECTRIMS Research Programme Fellowship, 2024
  • MSBase Research Fellowship, 2025

Dr Chao Zhu

  • Trish Foundation Post-doctoral Fellowship, 2024 - 2028

Publications

Below are a selection of some of published studies reflecting our high impact work. For a full list of our publications, please visit Pubmed.

  1. Comparative Effectiveness of Natalizumab, Fingolimod, and Injectable Therapies in Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis: A Registry-Based Study. Neurology, 2024. Spelman T, Simoneau G, Hyde R,....,Butzkueven H, MSBase Investigators.
  2. Comparing ocrelizumab to interferon/glatiramer acetate in people with multiple sclerosis over age 60. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2024 Jul, Foong, Y. C., Merlo, D., Gresle, M., Buzzard, K., Zhong, M., Yeh, W. Z., Jokubaitis, V., Monif, M., Skibina, O., Ozakbas, S., Patti, F., Grammond, P., Amato, M. P., Kalincik, T., Horakova, D., Kubala Havrdova, E., Weinstock-Guttman, B., Lechner Scott, J., Boz, C., Sa, M. J., Butzkueven, H., van der Walt, A., Zhu, C., MSBASE study group.
  3. Vitamin D did not reduce multiple sclerosis disease activity after a clinically isolated syndrome. Brain 2024. Butzkueven H, Ponsonby AL, Stein MS, Lucas RM, Mason D, Broadley S, Kilpatrick T, Lechner-Scott J, Barnett M, Carroll W, Mitchell P, Hardy TA, Macdonell R, McCombe P, Lee A, Kalincik T, van der Walt A, Lynch C, Abernethy D, Willoughby E, Barkhof F, MacManus D, Clarke M, Andrew J, Morahan J, Zhu C, Dear K, Taylor BV.
  4. Comparison Between Dimethyl Fumarate, Fingolimod, and Ocrelizumab After Natalizumab Cessation. JAMA Neurol. 2023. Zhu, C., Kalincik, T., Horakova, D., Zhou, Z., Buzzard, K., Skibina, O., Alroughani, R., Izquierdo, G., Eichau, S., Kuhle, J., Patti, F., Grand'Maison, F., Hodgkinson, S., Grammond, P., Lechner-Scott, J., Butler, E., Prat, A., Girard, M., Duquette, P., Macdonell, R. A. L., … , Butzkueven, H, MSBase Study Group
  5. Not all roads lead to the immune system: the genetic basis of multiple sclerosis severity. Brain, 2023. Jokubaitis, V. G., Campagna, M. P., Ibrahim, O., Stankovich, J., Kleinova, P., Matesanz, F., Hui, D., Eichau, S., Slee, M., Lechner-Scott, J., Lea, R. A., Kilpatrick, T. J., Kalincik, T., De Jager, P. L., Beecham, A. H., McCauley, J. L., Taylor, B. V. M., Vucic, S., Laverick, L., ... Butzkueven, H.
  6. Big Multiple Sclerosis Data network: an international registry research network.Journal of Neurology, 2024. Glaser, A., Butzkueven, H., van der Walt, A., Gray, O., Spelman, T., Zhu, C., Trojano, M., Iaffaldano, P., Battaglia, M. A., Lucisano, G., Vukusic, S., Vukusic, I., Casey, R., Horakova, D., Drahota, J., Magyari, M., Joensen, H., Pontieri, L., Elberling, F., ... Hillert, J.
  7. Heterogeneity on long-term disability trajectories in patients with secondary progressive MS: a latent class analysis from Big MS Data network. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 2022. Signori A, Lorscheider J, Vukusic S, ... , van der Walt A, ... , Skibina O, ... , Zhu C, ... , Butzkueven H, on behalf of the Big MS Data Network.
  8. Effect of Disease-Modifying Therapy on Disability in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Over 15 Years. Neurology, 2021. Kalincik T, Diouf I, Sharmin S, ...., Butzkueven H; MSBase Study Group.
  9. Association Between Cognitive Trajectories and Disability Progression in Patients With Relapsing- Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Neurology, 2021. Merlo D, Stankovich J, Bai C, Kalincik T, Zhu C, Gresle M, Lechner-Scott J, Kilpatrick T, Barnett M, Taylor B, Darby D, Butkueven H*, Van der Walt A* (*equal contribution).
  10. Association of Initial Disease-Modifying Therapy With Later Conversion to Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. JAMA, 2019. Brown JWL, Coles A, Horakova D, .... , Butzkueven H, Kalincik T, Robertson, MSBase Study Group.
  11. Defining secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Brain, 2016. Lorscheider J, Buzzard K, Jokubaitis V, ...., Butzkueven H*, Kalincik T* (*equal contribution), MSBase Study Group.