Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) –Emily Henders, who lives in the UK living with multiple sclerosis (MS), the condition has become the first patient to receive CAR T cell therapy—developed by researchers at UCL—as part of a clinical trial exploring whether this personalized treatment can slow down or even stop the disease’s progression.
She is 37, from Bushey in Hertfordshire, was given her infusion at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) in October 2025 and is now preparing to be discharged.
She indicated that she hopes that taking part in this trial means she will never face another relapse and that her MS will stop getting worse and knows it is still experimental, but the science behind it makes sense to her as a biology teacher.
MS causes destruction to the defensive myelin sheath surrounding nerves within the brain and spinal cord. This disruption results in issues for the normal flow of nerve signals. This brings about symptoms like blurred vision, hardships with movement, and issues with memory and thinking.
Due to the fact that at present there is no cure for MS, research into the field is absolutely vital. Although many treatments may assist in managing symptoms or slow the progression of the condition, none of them have the ability to completely prevent relapses or halt the condition from deteriorating over time.
However, with the positive accounts of CAR T cell therapy—specifically obecabtagene autoleucel (obe-cel)— for the treatment of blood cancers has had scientists at present look into its potential in autoimmune diseases like lupus and MS.
Researchers of the study pointed out that CAR T cell therapy functions by “resetting” the immune system via the elimination of B cells, which are thought to to trigger the autoimmune response in MS. The procedure involves the modification of a patient’s own T cells so they can mark and destroy B cells.
By doing so, the therapy may achieve lasting remission and halt disease progression.
Dr Claire Roddie, a researcher at the UCL Cancer Institute and consultant haematologist at UCLH, who has played a key role in the UCL/UCLH partnership developing CAR T cell treatments, indicated that it is incredibly exciting to be part of advancing obe-cel as a treatment for MS. Dr Roddie further pointed out that this Phase I clinical trial will permit them to assess the safety and effectiveness of obe-cel in MS patients and their ultimate aim is to induce long-term remission with a single, one-off CAR T therapy.
The lead researcher for the AUTO1-MS1 clinical trial is Dr Wallace Brownlee, consultant neurologist at UCLH, clinical lead for multiple sclerosis at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Honorary Associate Professor of Neuroinflammation at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology.
Dr Brownlee indicated that while MS treatments have advanced significantly over the past few years, none of the current drugs can completely prevent relapses or halt the disease’s progression. He further indicated that CAR T cell therapy represents a promising new direction for treating autoimmune disorders, and this study is a vital step toward understanding how feasible and safe this approach is for people living with MS.
Even with the uncertainty about whether the therapy will succeed, Emily remains determined and ready to confront her illness with optimism.
She said “Ultimately, I am doing my best to preserve my ability to live life fully, and to enjoy it with my family for many years to come, without the limitations that this disease can bring. My focus is on living fully despite MS – being a wife, a mother, a teacher, and someone who refuses to be defined by illness.
“My journey with MS is about choice and action. I choose to be proactive, to educate myself, and to confront uncertainty head-on. While the path is often unpredictable and daunting, I refuse to let MS dictate my life and I remain hopeful, not only for myself but for others who may one day benefit from advances in treatment.”
