A student has become the first person in Europe recruited to an international trial of a ground-breaking new treatment that could slow the progress of multiple sclerosis.

Jiangwei Liao was diagnosed with MS earlier this year after suffering from double vision.

He is now taking part in the clinical trial at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

The 26-year-old from Canterbury is being given an experimental medicine to see if it reduces the number of relapses people suffer, which could ultimately slow the disease progression and delay the damage it causes to someone’s brain.

Jiangwei, who is studying communications engineering at the University of Kent, has treatments each month in the medical day unit at the hospital, supervised by the research team who note any side effects.

It will continue for three years and he will be closely monitored to see how his MS progresses.

“My consultant mentioned the clinical trial and I was happy to be able to help contribute to finding better treatments,” he said.

“Most of my family work in hospitals so I am familiar with medical research, and I read a lot about it before making my final decision.

“This is a phase three trial, so it has already proved effective in smaller studies, and I was able to feel confident it was safe.

“My parents were initially worried about their son taking part in something so new but they understand why it is important.”

Jiangwei says the symptoms developed very quickly after he woke up seeing double and was urged to see a doctor.

Tests at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford later revealed he was suffering with MS - a lifelong condition affecting the brain and spinal cord leading to a range of potential symptoms including vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance.

“For now it is just affecting my eyes, and they are getting better, but I know it can get worse,” he said.

“The team said I was the first patient but I thought they meant the first in the hospital, not in Europe.

“It is exciting, and I hope lots of other people sign up so the doctors can see whether the treatment works.”

More than two million people worldwide are affected by MS, a neurological disease with unpredictable symptoms.

Other effects of MS include cognitive challenges and is two to three times more common in men than women.

It is caused when the immune system attacks healthy tissues in the brain and spinal cord and the disease can worsen over time.

NHS researchers are now working with pharmaceutical company Sanofi to test the experimental medicine.

“MS is much rarer in China, and my cousin had to wait many years and visit a lot of different hospitals before she was diagnosed, so I feel very lucky to be in the UK and part of this trial,” added Jiangwei.

East Kent Hospital NHS Foundation Trust neurology consultant Dr Sreedharan Harikrishnan is the lead researcher in the UK with the K&C hospital the lead research site.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our patients and could lead to a ground-breaking development in the treatment of multiple sclerosis,” he said.

“We hope to continue to recruit many more patients into this very important study.”