Resources for physicians

The Marshall ProtocolA curative medical treatment for chronic inflammatory disease. Based on the Marshall Pathogenesis. (MP) is the name given to the therapy devised by Professor Trevor Marshall.

The MP is based on the insight that chronic inflammatory diseases, including many autoimmune diseases, are caused by a metagenomic microbiotaThe community of bacterial pathogens including those in an intracellular and biofilm state which cause chronic disease., many components of which may persist intracellularly. In some cases, the very phagocytes, which are supposed to destroy infectious microbes, actually become infected by them; and this gives rise to chronic inflammatory disease. A recent peer-reviewed paper describes this Pathogenesis in more detail.¹⁾

The Phase Two observational trial, conducted since 2002 by the Autoimmunity Research FoundationNon-profit foundation dedicated to exploring a pathogenesis and therapy for chronic disease., has demonstrated applicability of this antibacterial therapy to a wide range of chronic inflammatory illnesses.

A significant number of patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis, post-treatment chronic Lyme syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, uveitis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, diabetes, psoriasis, lupus (SLE), multiple sclerosis, and a number of other diagnoses are all showing promising response when being treated with this antibacterial therapy.

In determining whether a patient can be successfully treated with the MP, a specific chronic disease diagnosis is not as important as the clinical assessment by a knowledgeable health care provider, the results of a therapeutic probe, and outcome of the vitamin D metabolites blood test.²⁾

The MP uses four-times daily dosing of the ARB olmesartan medoxomil (Benicar, Olmecip, Olmetec) to activate the Vitamin D Nuclear Receptor, which is at the heart of the innate immune system. Additionally, several pulsed, low-dose, bacteriostatic oral antibiotics are used to trigger the immune system to recognize the pathogens in the metagenomic microbiota. Olmesartan also reduces inflammatory cytokineAny of various protein molecules secreted by cells of the immune system that serve to regulate the immune system. production by inhibiting the NF kappa-B transcription pathway to inhibit, among other things, the release of TNF-alpha.

Chronic inflammatory disease is characterized by dyregulation of the nuclear receptorIntracellular receptor proteins that bind to hydrophobic signal molecules (such as steroid and thyroid hormones) or intracellular metabolites and are thus activated to bind to specific DNA sequences which affects transcription. pathways that control the innate immune responseThe body's first line of defense against intracellular and other pathogens. According to the Marshall Pathogenesis the innate immune system becomes disabled as patients develop chronic disease.. Under such conditions, the Vitamin D nuclear receptor (VDRThe Vitamin D Receptor. A nuclear receptor located throughout the body that plays a key role in the innate immune response.), which expresses the bulk of the body's antimicrobial peptidesBody’s naturally produced broad-spectrum antibacterials which target pathogens. and TLR2a receptor which is expressed on the surface of certain cells and recognizes native or foreign substances and passes on appropriate signals to the cell and/or the nervous system., becomes blocked by bacterial metabolites. Ingested vitamin D slows activity of the receptor in this same manner, preventing the body from killing the pathogens at the heart of the disease state. That is why avoidance of ingested vitamin D (in food and supplements) is essential for the innate immune system to function correctly while patients are on the MP.^{3) 4)}

Seriously ill patients may develop photosensitivityAbnormal sensitivity to sunlight and bright lights. Also referred to as "sun flare" or "light flare." during the healing process, so avoidance of direct and indirect sunlight may be necessary. Patients may need to protect their eyes from bright lights to prevent further retinal damage and reduce neurological symptoms due to inter alia, the effect of ocular 1,25-DPrimary biologically active vitamin D hormone. Activates the vitamin D nuclear receptor. Produced by hydroxylation of 25-D. Also known as 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D and calcitirol. production on the brain. Some patients do not experience any significant photosensitivity during recovery, and those who do usually find it more manageable after 12 to 18 months.

Trevor Marshall and the rest of the Autoimmunity Research Foundation research team have been active in publishing papers and making presentations before learned bodies.

Marshall's recent presentations can be viewed in order to get a more detailed description of the Marshall PathogenesisA description for how chronic inflammatory diseases originate and develop. and Protocol.

The Autoimmunity Research Foundation will help physicians and other health care providers understand Th1 inflammatory diseases and the MP, but the responsibility for managing the patient’s health and recovery resides with the licensed practitioner. The information on this site is intended to be a guideline for that health care provider.

Access to the Marshall Protocol study site is available for health professionals upon request. Health professionals are granted access to the Private Section for Health Professionals.

In addition to the Private Section for Health Professionals, health professionals have the option to contact Dr. Marshall at Trevor.M@yarcrip.com or (818) 584-1201.

To ensure success, physicians are asked to encourage their patients to review the Knowledge Base. This site provides additional instructions, helpful hints, and support that will greatly ease a practitioner’s emotional support workload and smooth the patient’s path to recovery.