MSAA and icometrix Partner to Expand MRI Access and Equity in MS Care
New Jersey, USA / Leuven, Belgium – The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA), the leading nonprofit improving lives for all people living with MS, in partnership with icometrix (now a GE HealthCare company), a global leader in AI-driven neuroimaging, proudly announce a major new collaboration: the expansion of the MRI Access Program.
This important initiative builds on MSAA’s long-standing commitment to addressing the unmet needs of people living with MS by expanding the program to incorporate advanced AI-powered MRI analysis designed to support the detection and tracking of disease progression, and the evaluation of treatment effectiveness through icometrix icobrain ms technology. Supported by Studypages’ secure platform for participant onboarding, consenting, and data collection, this enhanced program model will allow MSAA to better document the experiences of MRI access in the MS community and transform years of meaningful community insights into evidence that can help tell the untold story of how the most underserved individuals living with MS are being treated and monitored for progression, while using advanced imaging analysis and clinical data to understand disease evolution.
MRI scans are a critical component of clinical follow-up in MS care. They enable clinicians to track disease progression and evaluate treatment response, helping guide the timely and effective clinical decisions these individuals living with MS deserve. The MSAA MRI Access Program was created more than two decades ago to ensure all people living with MS can obtain MRI imaging, especially those who may otherwise be unable to access it due to financial or system barriers. This mission remains at the core of the new collaboration, which is expected to continue supporting approximately 1,000 MRI scans annually.
To date -and moving forward- the program has and will serve individuals living with MS experiencing periods of financial or systemic hardship, including:
- 100% of participants live below 300% of the U.S. federal poverty line
- 60% report annual household incomes under $50,000
- 38% are uninsured or underinsured
Through this collaboration, icometrix will support the analysis of both new and historical MRI scans from individuals participating in the program. Fully FDA-cleared, and CE-marked, icobrain ms delivers standardized insights by quantifying key biomarkers, such as lesion burden and brain volume changes, that are essential for monitoring disease activity and assessing therapeutic outcomes. Complementing this imaging data, Studypages will provide a secure infrastructure for participant workflow, and build a 360° view of the MS care journey.This collaboration also creates a pathway for participating clinicians to receive access to the advanced AI-powered quantitative MRI analysis through icobrain, helping to bring imaging insights to clinicians and patient populations that might not otherwise have access to this type of technology.
“This collaboration brings together two shared missions: equity in care and excellence in science,” said Prof. Gabriel Pardo, M.D., Director at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and Principal Investigator of the project. “By combining access to imaging with validated AI analysis, we not only enhance individual patient care, but also lay the groundwork for impactful research into a population often overlooked in traditional studies.”
All data will be de-identified and structured into a FAIR-compliant, interoperable research database. The result will be a unique large-scale dataset offering real-world evidence from a population that is chronically underrepresented in clinical trials and often excluded from research efforts. It may offer researchers and clinicians unprecedented insight into care disparities, disease patterns, and treatment efficacy across vulnerable communities.
“At MSAA, our mission has always been to ensure that everyone living with MS has access to the care and support they need, regardless of their circumstances,” said Amanda Montague, President & CEO of MSAA. “What stood out to us about icometrix is that their values align with ours. They don’t just build technology – they genuinely want to make a difference in patients’ lives, and that heart is reflected in every aspect of this partnership.”
By bringing scale, credibility, and expertise to the MRI Access Program, this collaboration redefines what’s possible in both clinical care and scientific advancement.
“This project is deeply personal to us. It reflects our belief that advanced imaging and AI should benefit every individual, not just those with access and resources. By ensuring that people receive the MRI scans they need and by equipping clinicians with innovative AI tools to interpret them, we move closer to a future where every person with MS receives the care they truly deserve.” says Wim Van Hecke, CEO of icometrix.
About MSAA
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is the leading resource for the MS community, improving lives today by delivering vital services and compassionate support while advancing access, research, and innovation to strengthen the MS community for tomorrow. MSAA provides numerous programs and services at no cost including: a Helpline with trained specialists; award-winning publications, including The Motivator magazine; educational videos, webinars, podcasts, and research updates; safety and mobility equipment products; cooling vests and accessories to help with heat-sensitivity; MRI funding; the Multiple Sclerosis Implementation Network®; My MS Manager™, a mobile phone app; My MSAA Community, a peer-to-peer online support forum; MS Conversations blog; and more. For additional information, please visit mymsaa.org or call (800) 532-7667.
About icometrix
icometrix, founded in 2011, is a global leader in AI-powered medical imaging solutions for neurological conditions. Its icobrain platform is FDA-cleared, CE-marked, and deployed worldwide across hospitals, research centers, and clinical trials. icometrix is now a GE HealthCare company, enabling the organization to scale its innovation and bring advanced imaging insights to even more clinicians and patients worldwide. To learn more about icometrix, visit icometrix.com.
About Studypages
Studypages, founded in 2014 by Yuzu Labs Public Benefit Corporation, is a clinical research technology company dedicated to connecting people and communities with research. Studypages replaces fragmented, manual processes with clear, consistent, and connected digital workflows for participant recruitment, coordination, and data collection. The Studypages platform offers a seamless and engaging experience for participants, research teams, and organizations, and is built on a secure infrastructure compliant with major regulations and standards, including GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2 Type 2, and 21 CFR Part 11. Studypages’ mission is to make research flow, enabling studies to move faster without compromise. To learn more about Studypages, visit studypages.com
