Six researchers from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research Multiple Sclerosis Research Flagship have secured a combined $1.2 million in grants for new multiple sclerosis (MS) research starting in 2025.
Supporting the MS Research Flagship’s shared vision of reducing the impact of MS on individuals and the community, grant recipients Dr Jessica Fletcher, Dr Nicholas Blackburn, Mr Glen Henson, Dr Valery Fuh-Ngwa, Dr Yi Chao Foong and Dr Julie Campbell are investigating MS across various disciplines including neurobiology, genetics, neurology, statistics (or disease modelling) and health economics.
Among the funded projects are pioneering studies on harnessing the brain’s healing power, investigating genetic changes in MS families, and using health economics to improve treatment decisions. These diverse projects are beneficiaries of MS Australia's latest funding round.
About the projects
Dr Jessica Fletcher is researching ways to repair damage to the brain in MS by boosting the production of myelin, which protects nerve cells. "Our goal is to develop precise treatments that target myelin-producing cells known as oligodendrocytes," said Dr Fletcher. The study focuses on the molecule Olig2 to stimulate myelin regeneration, potentially leading to safer, more effective therapies. Find out more about Jessica’s research project.
Dr Nicholas Blackburn is studying families with multiple relatives who have MS to understand genetic influences on MS development. "Our study aims to identify genetic changes that contribute to MS development, understand why MS occurs more frequently in some families, and ultimately why it develops at all, even in people with no family history of MS," Dr Blackburn said. Find out more about Nick’s research project.
Mr Glen Henson is using health economics to understand the global impact of MS and improve treatment policies. "Our research aims to enhance quality of life for people with MS by helping doctors make better treatment decisions and supporting government subsidisation of MS therapies," said Mr Henson. The study will also examine the long-term effects of COVID-19 on people with MS to inform future pandemic responses. Find out more about Glen’s research project.
Dr Valery Fuh-Ngwa's research aims to understand disability progression in relapsing MS. Using data from various MS registries, Dr Fuh-Ngwa’s team will analyse the evolution of disability status and compare standard treatments to stem cell treatments. "We seek to develop new methods to analyse health outcomes and improve MS treatment approaches," said Dr Fuh-Ngwa, whose project is also part-funded by MSWA. Find out more about Valery’s research project.
Dr Yi Chao Foong's research focuses on improving treatments and monitoring for older people with MS. "We aim to understand the balance between therapeutic benefits and risks of disease-modifying therapies in older MS patients, to promote more consistent, evidence-based clinical decision making," Dr Foong said. The study will also identify digital tools for early detection of disease progression. Find out more about Foong’s research project.
Dr Julie Campbell’s team is investigating whether women and marginalised groups with MS in Australia earn less than men and exploring the reasons behind this wage disparity. “A double burden of wage discrimination exists where disability and gender collide. The findings from this study will help to raise awareness and provide evidence to advocate for wage equality,” said Dr Campbell. Find out more about Julie’s research project.
About MS
MS is the most common acquired chronic neurological disease affecting young adults, often diagnosed between the ages of 20 to 40. As yet, there is no cure.
