Could Vitamin B5 help alleviate anaemia in MDS Patients?

In 2023, Dr. Kevin Rouault-Pierre (Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London) and his research team published a study in Science Translational Medicine, highlighting the potential of Vitamin B5 to boost red blood cell production in MDS patients. While the initial research was laboratory-based, the next phase will focus on patients. MDS UK is delighted to be funding this phase, which is the development of an assay (a range of tests) to measure Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) levels in patients.

The recording below features a March 18, 2025, presentation to MDS UK members by Dr. Onima Chowdhury, Dr. Rouault-Pierre, and their team discussing this study.

Watch: A recorded presentation about the Vitamin B5 study

As well as providing the funding for this exciting study, MDS UK will be helping facilitate the trial’s PPIE requirement (Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement).

Further to this, Dr Kevin Rouault-Pierre, in collaboration with Dr Onima Chowdhury from Oxford University Hospitals, and supported by MDS UK, are preparing an application to fund a full, UK-wide, clinical trial. This is sponsored by Birmingham University Cancer Research Clinical Trials Unit, with the aim of applying to fund the clinical trial in 2025 and will get underway in early Spring 2025. 

The Vitamin B5 Study Team


MDS Patient Support

Dr Kevin Rouault-Pierre is group leader and a Reader in Stem Cell Biology and Diseases at the Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London. 

MDS Patient Support

Dr Shoshana Burke is a Clinical Research Fellow in Dr Rouault-Pierre’s laboratory and a clinician at the Barts Health NHS Trust.

MDS Patient Support

Dr Onima Chowdhury is a consultant haematologist in the Haematology department at Oxford University Hospitals where she looks after patients with myeloid malignancies. She is also a clinical lead in the diagnostics laboratory.

For more information 


 

 

If you would like to help us fund more research and trials like this please consider donating either a single amount or a small monthly donation by clicking the button below.

MDS Patient Support
MDS Patient Support
MDS Patient Support
MDS Patient Support
MDS Patient Support