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Dr John Parratt is the recipient of MS Research Australia’s inaugural Junior Practitioner Fellowship. Dr Parratt is valuable clinical researcher who has both an in-depth clinical understanding of MS and its treatment and scientific training at a PhD level.
In particular, Dr Parratt’s interests and skills in epidemiology, clinical, molecular and pathology of MS represent the integrated approach that is necessary to unravel the complexities of MS.
This Fellowship enables Dr Parratt to pursue clinical research in parallel to his clinical practice, to advance specific goals including:
Overall, Dr Parratt’s work will identify, describe and explain the pathogenesis of acute MS lesions. The results have the capacity to improve and create better treatments for People with MS.
This young and respected clinical researcher has accumulated 10 years of scientific and medical training. MS Research Australia is pleased to support Dr Parratt’s further research goals through this fellowship which ensures the close alignment of research with the clinical goals to improve the diagnosis and treatment of MS.
Over the course of this Fellowship so far, Dr Parratt has been pursuing a number of important lines of research, particularly in relation to the self-directed antibodies (auto-antibodies) that play a role in the pathology of MS. He is also aiming to characterise different sub-types of MS particularly in relation to the ethnic background and migration status of people with MS. These programs and Dr Parratt’s other studies are summarised below.
Migrant Investigations of the Determinants of Multiple Sclerosis
A major epidemiological study entitled “Migrant Investigation of the Determinants of Multiple Sclerosis (MIDAS)” is being coordinated by Dr Parratt through the George Institute, University of Sydney and all the major MS centres in the city. To date, 1600 patients with MS have been identified and clinical and demographic data obtained with a further 1700 to be identified over the coming year. The study will determine, for the first time, the frequency of MS in different patients according to ethnicity and place of birth. This will lead to more detailed analysis on the genetic and environmental contributions that make MS what it is in any given individual.
Phenotypic analysis of Multiple Sclerosis
As part of the MIDAS study Dr Parratt has studied 200 people with MS to develop new methods to characterise and describe different sub-types of MS based on where the lesions occur in the brain and spinal cord. This is important because the areas in which lesions occur appear to be associated with the type of neurological problems and the development of disability.
Immunological characterisation of MS
Dr Parratt and his laboratory team are also examining the immune system profiles and auto-antibodies that may be associated with these subgroups of MS. It is anticipated that this may lead to better understanding of the mechanisms behind MS in different groups and refine treatments for particular groups, accordingly. The team has refined the analysis to determine that three antibodies appear to be specific for MS but occur at relatively low frequency. There are also many more antibodies that occur in only one or two individuals with MS. To determine which antibodies are important and understand how the different antibodies contribute to the development of MS, Dr Parratt’s team is developing an “Antibody Map” to establish the major targets of the immune system in the brain and spinal cord.
Viral Studies in MS
Dr Parratt has been collaborating with Professor Howard Lipton at the University of Chicago to identify specific viruses in post-mortem brain tissue from MS and MS-sister disease, Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO). This work is continuing and may provide some evidence to support the theory that virus infected B cells located just outside of the brain may contribute to the development of disease.
Choroid plexus in MS
The choroid plexus is a vital structure in the brain that produces the spinal fluid. The fluid provides nutrients to nervous system cells and removes waste products. Dr Parratt and his team have been investigating inflammation in the choroid plexus in MS and NMO to determine whether it plays a role in the pathology of MS. This study is designed to determine the extent and type of destruction that occurs in the choroid plexus in MS and how it differs from ageing and other diseases.
Updated: 30 June 2014
Dr John Parratt
$320,000
2010
4 years
Past project
