Fredrik Sandesjö

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling neuroinflammatory disease of the central nervous system affecting nearly three million people worldwide. About 5% experience their first neurological symptoms during childhood – a situation that is particularly distressing for both the child and the family.

While the treatment landscape for adult‑onset MS has expanded dramatically over the past two decades, children have largely been excluded from pivotal clinical trials. As a result, treatment decisions for paediatric MS still rely on limited evidence. Only three therapies have been formally tested and approved for use in children, and all are considered only moderately effective in adults. This is concerning given that children typically show more inflammatory disease activity, reach disability earlier, and experience faster cognitive decline.

There is therefore an urgent need for more comparative data on treatment outcomes in paediatric MS. My research aims to address this gap by generating long‑term, real‑world evidence to better understand which therapies are most effective and safe for children — with the overarching goal of minimising neurological disability and improving long‑term quality of life for individuals with paediatric‑onset MS.