MS Research Australia (MSRA), launched in 2004, was established as a strategic MS-specific national research initiative, focusing our world-class strengths in neurobiology, immunology and epidemiology into MS research, with a nationally, unified, collaborative research approach and best-practice governance. The aim of MSRA is to achieve specific breakthroughs and outcomes in Australian MS research and lead towards finding a cause and cure for MS. It is focussing on specific areas of Australian researchers' acknowledged strengths - to develop areas in which we can have the greatest impact on world-wide MS research. MSRA is Chaired by Simon McKeon, an Executive Director of Macquarie Bank in Melbourne. Its Board includes two of Australia's senior medical research institute heads, namely, Doctor Bill Carroll of Perth and Professor Graeme Stewart at Westmead.

Australasian clinicians have been and continue to be actively involved in international phase II and III clinical trials of a range of disease modifying drugs used in the treatment of MS, e.g., the CORAL Study, the AFFIRM Monotherapy Trial, the BEYOND Study, and PreCISe. A number of studies are currently underway, including studies of interferon beta-1a, CNTO 1275, Cladribine, and FTY720.

Australian investigators are actively involved in MS Base Registry, an observational database of MS clinical outcomes, and in the management of MS Base Foundation.