TiM-R

UK Chief Investigator

Professor Chris McDermott

Research summary

As MND progresses, many patients find it difficult to travel to participate in research studies, particularly those living far from major clinical centres. Historically, this has resulted in research studies taking years to recruit diverse participants and generate results. TiM-R was created to address these challenges by allowing individuals with MND to participate in research studies from home without requiring extensive travel. 

How does TiM-R work?

• Remote participation: TiM-R eliminates the need for participants to travel long distances to participate in research. People with MND can now engage with research from the comfort of their homes.

• More comprehensive access to research: The platform allows people from diverse locations and backgrounds to join MND studies, ensuring broader representation in research.

• Standardised data collection: TiM-R helps streamline data collection across studies, providing researchers with consistent, high-quality data.

• Real-time updates: Participants can stay informed about ongoing research and access results as they become available, creating a more transparent and engaging experience for those involved.

The answers collected through TiM-R questionnaires are vital for understanding the “natural history” of MND. This information informs the clinical trial design and helps identify risk factors that could lead to new treatments or preventions. The platform also accelerates the recruitment process, assisting MND researchers more quickly in finding suitable participants and reducing the cost and time of conducting studies.

How to get involved

If you live with MND and want to join the TiM-R research platform you can learn more here. You’ll be asked to provide basic information such as your email address and name, create a password, and you’re all set. Once registered, you’ll receive more information about ongoing studies and can choose to participate in research that interests you.

Current status

Open to recruitment

Recruitment target

Open ended - this is a research database and anyone with MND in the UK can participate.

Recruitment groups

• People with MND

Locations

• Anywhere in the UK - this is an online research database, and people with MND can self-refer

Contact details

Dr Liam Knox  Email: L.Knox@sheffield.ac.uk

Key dates

Recruitment opening date: 24 July 2023

Planned recruitment end date: There is no planned end of recruitment, however, we will need to reapply for ethics in 5 years.

Funders

LifeArc, MND Association, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Sponsor

University of Sheffield